Air

Tracking the latest agency and congressional debates over rules to cut emissions of traditional pollutants, and a broad range of novel EPA policies including the agency's shift to a "multipollutant" regulatory approach for individual sectors.

Topic Subtitle
Tracking the latest agency and congressional debates over rules to cut emissions of traditional pollutants, and a broad range of novel EPA policies including the agency's shift to a "multipollutant" regulatory approach for individual sectors.

FINGER-POINTING FOLLOWS ARB PORTABLE ENGINE NONCOMPLIANCE REPORT

A draft air board report that finds about 15,000-20,000 portable engines in the state are unpermitted, in violation of local rules, may spur officials to seek a tougher state oversight program and more funding for local air districts to enforce their rules. Programs to regulate and apply emission standards to portable engines have been dogged by problems for years, with leading air district officials criticizing state efforts and construction and energy companies complaining about confusing provisions and significant compliance costs...

LOWERED ARB ABOVEGROUND TANK EMISSION ESTIMATES MAY SOFTEN RULES

Significantly lowered pollutant emission estimates associated with aboveground fuel storage tanks (ASTs) by air board staff may soften forthcoming rules on several major industries seeking to reduce those emissions, according to sources. The AST rulemaking was shelved last year when air board staff acknowledged it had incorrectly estimated emissions from the tanks, after industry groups heavily criticized the effort. New evaporative emission estimates for about 9,500 ASTs in the state are included in a draft ARB document released this week...

EPA CLEAN AIR ADVISERS QUESTION PROPOSED COST-BENEFIT STUDIES

An EPA advisory panel is raising concerns with two proposed agency projects intended to help determine the costs and benefits of reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, while urging agency staff to continue discussing potential research on the ecological effects of NOx and other pollutants. The Advisory Council on Clean Air Compliance Analysis agreed during a May 24 teleconference to finalize draft recommendations on proposed case studies to examine the effects of air pollution, particularly NOx, on waterbodies. Final recommendations by...

EPA DELAY OF DIESEL RULE CAUTIOUSLY ACCEPTED BY INDUSTRY, ACTIVISTS

EPA's decision to delay the compliance deadline for reduced sulfur content in diesel fuel has attracted lukewarm acceptance from both vehicle manufacturers and environmentalists. Fuel suppliers requested the delay to ease their transition to formulating the cleaner-burning diesel. Diesel engine makers have been counting on the cleaner fuel to achieve strict new emission standards, and are raising questions about how a delay might affect those efforts. One environmentalist says the decision likely would not spark significant objections so long as...

WESTERN AIR GROUP QUIETLY CONSIDERS ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE

The Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP), which was formed to tackle regional haze in Western states, may take on the politically charged issue of climate change after agreeing to hold a second board meeting on the topic this summer. The issue is sensitive because some member states, including Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, are unlikely to support mandatory action to reduce greenhouse gases. The group is administered by the Western Governor's Association. At a meeting...

EPA CLEAR SKIES ANALYSIS PLEDGE MAY NOT RESOLVE DEMOCRATS' CONCERNS

EPA Administrator Steve Johnson's recent pledge to conduct long-sought analysis of the Bush administration's Clear Skies bill and other multi-pollutant legislation appears unlikely to satisfy Democratic concerns about the adequacy of EPA data on the proposals' benefits. House Democrats and Senate sources say Johnson's latest offer, which expands on a pledge he made in April, still falls short of what they are seeking, suggesting that EPA's proposal is unlikely to bring the debate back to the merits of the legislation,...

Western States Take Steps To Consider Regional Effects Of Climate Change

The Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP), which was formed to tackle regional haze in Western states, may take on the politically charged issue of climate change after agreeing to hold a second board meeting on the topic this summer. The issue is sensitive because some member states, including Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, are unlikely to support mandatory action to reduce greenhouse gases. The partnership is administered by the Western Governors' Association, which is currently...

INDUSTRY MAKES LANDMARK BID TO STRIP OHIO EPA OF TOXICS AUTHORITY

Chemical, manufacturing and other industries' attempt to win a legislative fix stripping the Ohio EPA of its ability to regulate hundreds of air toxics could spark an industry push to reign in specific powers of other state environmental agencies, an Ohio EPA source says. An environmentalist agrees that the effort could cause a "domino effect" in Indiana, Illinois and other industrial states in the Midwest and South. Sources say this is the first time industry is seeking specifically to restrict...

PAINT INDUSTRY EYES BALLOT TO END CALIFORNIA VOC EMISSION FEES

Paint industry officials are sponsoring a proposed ballot initiative that could ultimately scrap a California requirement that paint companies pay thousands of dollars in fees for emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) following a judge's ruling against the industry's attempted injunction to halt payment of the fees. An environmentalist warns that the proposal, if successful, could motivate other industries to use similar ballot initiatives to overturn environmental regulations. The industry-drafted initiative will go before voters next June if sponsors get...

DEPARTING EPA ENFORCEMENT CHIEF FOCUSES ON NSR, REFINERY DEALS

EPA's acting enforcement chief Tom Skinner, who has announced that he will leave the agency this fall, says he will focus during his remaining time on reaching settlements with the utility industry in pending Clean Air Act new source review (NSR) cases and in cases under the agency's clean air enforcement initiative against oil refineries. Skinner wrote the White House May 24 asking President Bush to withdraw his nomination to become assistant administrator of the enforcement office, which has been...

OPPOSING GROUPS POSE TEST FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S KEY MERCURY RULE

Pennsylvania's effort to develop a landmark state rulemaking to reduce mercury from electric utilities -- the first by a major coal-producing state -- faces a tough challenge because of competing positions from environmentalists seeking strict standards and the coal industry concerned that stringent controls would force fuel switching. The state's task appears more difficult after it joined New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey and other states May 18 in suing EPA over its mercury rule for power plants, saying it...

STATES, ENVIRONMENTALISTS CHALLENGE EPA MERCURY RULES

New Jersey is leading a multi-state state effort to challenge EPA's final cap-and-trade mercury rule, which was published in the Federal Register May 18. Other states include California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Vermont and Wisconsin. Environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, the Clean Air Task Force, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Waterkeeper Alliance and others also filed suit against the rule. The petitions, filed in the U.S. Court...

WESTERN AIR GROUP QUIETLY CONSIDERS ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE

The Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) is considering delving into the politically sensitive issue of addressing climate change. The group, which was formed to tackle regional haze in Western states, has agreed to hold a second board meeting on the topic this summer to discuss what -- if anything -- it wants to do on the issue. At a WRAP meeting last month, the group held a half-day information session on global warming and its impacts in the West, which...

CALIFORNIA DRAFTS CAP-AND-TRADE OPTIONS IN CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY

The California EPA (Cal/EPA) has completed options to pursue a statewide greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade program, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is expected to soon announce emission reduction targets for the state, sources say. The effort has national implications because of California's size and the potential that other states may follow suit, sources say. Cal/EPA is leading an "intergovernmental working group" to evaluate options for a comprehensive greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program for the state, according to agency sources. It is...

WESTERN AIR OFFICIALS EYE MAJOR PUSH TO OVERHAUL PARK AIR RULES

Western state air officials are planning a major effort aimed at convincing EPA to accept a new approach to setting emissions limits in national parks and other pristine areas that shifts away from air quality thresholds and instead relies on ecological impacts. Supporters of what is known as the "critical load" approach say it is the most effective method for protecting human health and habitats because it limits emissions based on the damage caused to local ecosystems. It would set...

WESTERN STATES URGE EPA TO ADOPT LONG-AWAITED PSD ADVICE

The Western States Air Resources Council (WESTAR) last month formally adopted 14 recommendations to EPA on how to reform and simplify the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permit program, which is designed to maintain clean-air areas such as parks and wilderness. But the group, comprised of Western state officials, acknowledges that the consensus recommendations are a "carefully balanc[ed]" compromise that EPA should adopt in its entirety, rather than piecemeal. "We encourage EPA to consider these recommendations in total, thereby maintaining...

EPA PLEDGE FOR CLEAR SKIES ANALYSIS UNLIKELY TO RESOLVE CONCERNS

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson's recent pledge to conduct long-sought analyses of the Bush administration's Clear Skies bill and other multi-pollutant legislation appears unlikely to satisfy Democratic concerns that EPA has provided adequate data on the benefits of the proposals. House Democrats and Senate sources say Johnson's latest offer, which expands on a pledge he made last month, still falls short of what they are seeking, suggesting that EPA's latest move is unlikely to bring the debate back to the merits...

EPA SCIENCE PANEL SEEKS UNUSUAL REVIEW OF COARSE AIR PARTICLE PLAN

An EPA science advisory panel has made the unusual decision to clear agency staff recommendations on pollution standards for larger particulate matter (PM), known as "PM coarse," while reserving the right to further review the plan after it is sent to the agency administrator. The decision highlights lingering scientific concerns about assessing the health risks of particulate matter emissions in various parts of the country. The particulate matter review panel of the agency's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) held...

NEW YORK PROPOSES GHG VEHICLE STANDARD DESPITE LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES

New York state environmental officials are moving forward with a state proposal to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs) from automobiles despite the legal uncertainty surrounding the plan, which is modeled after a California law the auto industry is already challenging. The state, which is the first besides California to go on the record to say it will adopt the regulation, is pressing ahead with the proposal despite the expectation of an auto industry lawsuit in New York. Officials say they must...

MEXICAN TRUCKERS IRATE OVER BORDER INSPECTION LAW TO TEST EMISSIONS

Mexican trucking companies are blasting California's 2004 law requiring trucks entering the state beginning next year to meet U.S. emission standards, saying their operations are being unfairly discriminated against, possibly in violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), according to sources. The Mexican truckers are also apprehensive about new California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations that will bolster the state's heavy-duty diesel engine inspections at border crossings, which have been proposed as a backstop should the 2004 law...

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