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.

Lawsuit Targets Bush Energy Policies As House Vote Nears

Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit alleging that the Bush administration has failed to ensure that federal agencies are purchasing required numbers of alternative fuel vehicles, which the plaintiffs say will undercut domestic efforts to reduce soaring gasoline prices. The lawsuit marks a new line of attack by environmentalists looking to discredit the Bush administration's energy policies, as the House plans to vote this week on comprehensive energy legislation that includes controversial provisions allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife...

EPA Eyes Delaware Chlorine Plant As Model For Mercury Monitoring

EPA officials say a voluntary plan for monitoring mercury emissions at a Delaware chlorine manufacturing plant may be a model for a study on emissions of the neurotoxin, in response to litigation by environmentalists. EPA sources say they are looking to do similar monitoring at other facilities by the end of the year as part of a national study. Under the agreement completed earlier this month, Occidental Chemical Corporation will conduct real-time monitoring of "fugitive" mercury emissions, which are released...

NOVEL AIR-WATER POLLUTANT TRADING PROGRAM COULD SERVE AS MODEL

California and Nevada environmental agencies are jointly developing the first-ever pollution trading program that involves cross-media trading between air and water sources, which observers say could serve as a model for developing similar trading programs in other states. The trading plan is part of a larger effort to develop a pollution reduction plan known as a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for nitrogen in Lake Tahoe. It could set the stage for air-to-water trading in other areas of the country...

NORTHEAST STATES PUSH LAWMAKERS FOR NEW MERCURY AIR, WASTE CONTROLS

State water, air and waste officials from the Northeast are calling on their congressional delegations to force the creation of tighter air pollution standards, and an additional federal program limiting mercury pollution from consumer products and waste. The officials argue that problems related to mercury pollution will not improve in their region unless EPA and Congress take steps to issue new air standards and address mercury in consumer products. They say state and local initiatives have achieved over 90 percent...

Novel Trading Program For Air, Water Pollutants May Serve As National Model

California and Nevada are jointly developing the first pollution trading program that involves cross-media contaminants, which observers say could serve as a model for developing similar trading programs in other states. The trading plan is part of a larger effort to develop a pollution reduction strategy known as a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for nitrogen in Lake Tahoe. It could set the stage for air-to-water trading in other areas of the country experiencing nitrogen pollution, such as the Mid-Atlantic's...

EPA To Delay Haze Rule Based On Agreement With Environmentalists

EPA has made an abrupt decision to delay issuing a landmark regional haze rule the agency was required by court order to issue April 15. The agency will delay the rule until June 15 based on an agreement with Environmental Defense, the group that brought the lawsuit setting the original deadline, agency officials say. Agency officials had indicated earlier this week that EPA was on track to complete the rulemaking. The initiative would require power plants and other industrial sources...

Northeast Pushes Regional Greenhouse Gas Controls Despite National Concerns

In an effort to quickly move forward with a Northeast plan to crack down on greenhouse gases, the region's states will likely put off a decision on how to offset a potential increase in carbon dioxide emissions in other parts of the country resulting from the regional controls. State officials have long been concerned that power companies might decide to produce more electricity in areas that are not subject to the Northeast program, creating what is referred to as emissions...

EXPERT BASHES ARB RULE COSTS IN NAS REVIEW OF STATE STANDARDS

A Sacramento-based environmental consultant was scheduled this week to strongly criticize the cost-effectiveness of major air board mobile source regulations that have been adopted by other states, as part of a national scientific panel's review of such rules. Testimony by the consultant and industries critical of the state's rules is expected to be challenged by eastern state officials who have adopted California regulations over the years. Tom Austin, a scientist with the consulting group Sierra Research, contends Air Resources Board...

NORTHEAST MAY DELAY DECISION ON EMISSIONS 'LEAKAGE' IN CLIMATE PLAN

Northeast states may postpone a decision on how to prevent the displacement of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to other parts of the country under their regional greenhouse gas initiative (RGGI), in order to launch the program first and address the issue in future years, industry and environmentalist sources say. The states have long been concerned that power companies might decide to produce more electricity in areas that are not subject to the mandate, creating what is known as emissions "leakage."...

EPA CITES STATE LAWS TO PUSH 'BIG THREE' ON VOLUNTARY MERCURY PLAN

EPA is citing growing state efforts to require auto companies to pay for removing mercury switches from millions of vehicles that will soon be scrapped in an effort to restart stalled talks on establishing a voluntary national program for preventing mercury releases when smelting the vehicles, EPA and other sources say. The talks -- which include the Big Three automakers, the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI), the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and environmental groups, including Environmental Defense and...

EXPIRING ICR AUTHORITY MAY ALLOW BOILERS TO AVOID MACT PERMIT 'HAMMER'

EPA may not renew an expiring information collection request (ICR) authorizing the agency to seek data from industry for air toxics permits, which could allow industrial boilers to avoid obtaining site-specific permits due to EPA's failure to promulgate a rule for the units by a court-ordered deadline, according to an agency official. If authority for the ICR is not renewed, the agency cannot collect the information it will need to consider the site-specific permit applications industry must soon file. The...

SCIENCE ADVISERS QUESTION EPA PLEDGE TO MONITOR MERCURY 'HOT SPOTS'

EPA science advisers are challenging the agency's recent pledge to monitor for potentially high concentrations of mercury emissions as part of EPA's mercury air rule issued last month, arguing that the agency has no scientific means to track so-called "hot spots" of the contaminant. The finding is significant because critics have charged that the Bush administration's proposed cap-and-trade system for mercury emissions may cause residents of certain areas to be exposed to levels of mercury that surpass EPA safety limits...

TESTING PROGRAM COULD RESULT IN RELAXED DIESEL RULE ENFORCEMENT

EPA is launching a testing program to assess the accuracy of procedures for measuring the sulfur content of diesel fuel, which could spur additional enforcement flexibility that the oil industry is seeking under a major rule requiring cleaner fuel in highway vehicles beginning in 2006. EPA has also asked the industry to suggest options for addressing concerns that contamination of the low-sulfur fuel could prevent compliance with the rule's requirements, according to industry and agency sources. At issue are two...

SENATORS EYE TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVES TO BOOST CLIMATE CHANGE BILL

In an attempt to broaden support for mandatory climate control legislation, Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) are poised to introduce a revised version of their cap-and-trade climate change bill that contains new incentives for developing low-emitting technologies. McCain told Inside EPA , "As we learn, we know that we want to make technologies attractive to business so that they will be more involved" in efforts to combat climate change. McCain and Lieberman are the lead sponsors of...

NOVEL AIR-WATER POLLUTANT TRADING PROGRAM COULD SERVE AS MODEL

California and Nevada environmental agencies are jointly developing the first-ever pollution trading program that involves cross-media trading between air and water sources, which observers say could serve as a model for developing similar trading programs in other states. The trading plan is part of a larger effort to develop a pollution reduction plan known as a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for nitrogen in Lake Tahoe. It could set the stage for air-to-water trading in other areas of the country...

EPA Testing Program May Prompt Relaxed Diesel Rule Enforcement

EPA is launching a testing program to assess the accuracy of procedures for measuring the sulfur content of diesel fuel, which could spur additional enforcement flexibility that the oil industry is seeking under a major rule requiring cleaner fuel in highway vehicles beginning in 2006. EPA has also asked the industry to suggest options for addressing concerns that contamination of the low-sulfur fuel could prevent compliance with the rule's requirements, according to industry and agency sources. At issue are two...

Senators Eye Technology Incentives To Boost Climate Change Legislation

In an attempt to broaden support for mandatory climate control legislation, Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) are poised to introduce a revised version of their cap-and-trade climate change bill to include new incentives for developing low-emitting technologies. McCain told Inside EPA , "As we learn, we know that we want to make technologies attractive to business so that they will be more involved" in efforts to combat climate change. McCain and Lieberman are the lead sponsors of...

Science Advisers Question EPA Pledge To Monitor Mercury 'Hot Spots'

EPA science advisers are challenging the agency's recent pledge to monitor for potential concentrations of mercury emissions as part of EPA's mercury air rule issued last month, arguing that the agency has no scientific means to track so-called "hot spots" of the contaminant. The finding is significant because critics have charged that the Bush administration's proposed cap-and-trade system for mercury emissions may cause residents of certain areas to be exposed to levels of mercury that surpass EPA safety limits. In...

Energy Cost Concerns Seen Stalling California Global Warming Initiative

Concerns within the Schwarzenegger administration about the effect of greenhouse gas controls on energy prices are holding up a California EPA (Cal/EPA) proposal to establish statewide emission reduction targets, according to government sources. Cal/EPA Secretary Alan Lloyd last week told lawmakers that the proposal has been sent to the governor for final review, but declined to provide details of the emission targets or any reduction efforts that may be recommended. Advocates of establishing greenhouse gas targets, including former Cal/EPA secretary...

CHEMICAL RISKS PROMPT EPA TO EYE STRICTER AIR RULES FOR DRY-CLEANERS

EPA concerns about the risks posed by a dry-cleaning chemical are likely to result in stricter rules for major emitters and thousands of smaller businesses and may result in a ban on certain uses of the compound as part of an upcoming air toxics rule, agency sources say. The restrictions under consideration may be included in a proposed residual risk rule for tetrachloroethylene (perc) emitters following preliminary EPA risk determinations that existing control technologies are not adequately managing risks. Agency...

Pages

Not a subscriber? Sign up for 30 days free access to exclusive environmental policy reporting.