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.

Utility Talks On Emission Credits May Spell Fate Of Clear Skies Bill

Utility industry discussions on how to allocate emission credits under the Bush administration's Clear Skies proposal may ultimately prove crucial to the fate of the bill, and any resulting legislation could provide a framework for future efforts to control carbon dioxide emissions, according to industry sources. The discussions -- including a Feb. 25 conference call organized by the Edison Electric Institute -- are occurring in advance of a scheduled March 2 markup on Clear Skies legislation after the Senate environment...

California Officials Accuse Utilities Of Downplaying Air Quality Impacts Of LNG

California air regulators are accusing natural gas suppliers and electric utilities of "trivializing" the potential pollution caused by using imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). The emission effects of using natural gas derived from imported LNG is a crucial question for national plans, as well as proposed projects in California, to expand the U.S. capacity to process the fuel as a way to address rising demand for natural gas and ease energy prices. A national coalition of natural gas suppliers, utilities,...

AIR DISTRICTS CONTEND GAS INDUSTRY DOWNPLAYING POSSIBLE LNG IMPACTS

South Coast and Santa Barbara air district officials are charging that natural gas suppliers and utilities are "trivializing" the potential pollution impact that the integration of richer burning liquefied natural gas (LNG) may have on appliances and industrial equipment. Emission impacts is a critical issue being researched and discussed among a variety of stakeholders with regard to whether California, or the nation, should pursue changes to natural gas component specifications to more smoothly accommodate LNG in the coming years. A...

COURT QUERY IN CHEVRON SUIT PROMPTS EPA DEFENSE OF REFINERY PACTS

EPA and the Justice Department (DOJ) have issued new explanations of an environmental settlement with Chevron that provides a broad defense of the agency's negotiation of comprehensive air pollution limitation agreements with refiners under its long running Clean Air Act enforcement initiative. The government's explanations provide what several attorneys say is a highly unusual window into the EPA negotiating strategy, including the rationale behind its decisions to negotiate broad settlements that may include concessions to industry, while limiting investigations into...

SOUTH COAST BOARD MEMBER, FORMER OFFICIAL JOIN ARB CHAIR SEEKERS

A South Coast air district governing board member and a former district hearing board member have joined the list of candidates for the state air board chairmanship. Several sources said the administration does not consider the appointment a pressing priority, which could mean the list of candidates may expand as the position remains vacant. Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, who was appointed to the South Coast air district governing board in 2000 and reappointed in 2003 by former Gov. Gray Davis (D), is...

NATURAL GAS SUPPLIERS, UTILITIES PRESS ARB TO RELAX CNG SPEC

Natural gas suppliers and southern California utilities say the air board should relax its current compressed natural gas (CNG) standard for vehicles, or face massive noncompliance and potential supply shortages as liquefied natural gas (LNG) is integrated into the fuel supply. But engine makers and other industry stakeholders -- including utilities -- fear that if the standard is relaxed too much, it may damage CNG vehicles and other equipment fired by natural gas and increase pollution. At issue are the...

GOP LAWMAKER SEEKS DISTANCE FROM INHOFE INQUIRY ON STATE AIR GROUP

Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), the chairman of the Senate clean air subcommittee, appears to be distancing himself from an inquiry by environment committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK) into the finances of a group of state air officials that opposes the Bush administration's Clear Skies utility emissions bill. Some observers say Inhofe's inquiry could distract key players from pending talks on the Clear Skies bill at a time when lawmakers, congressional staff and others are seeking to develop a compromise following...

EPA LIKELY TO IGNORE NEW IG RECOMMENDATIONS IN MONITORING STRATEGY

EPA appears unlikely to incorporate new recommendations from the agency's inspector general (IG) into a comprehensive new strategy for ambient air monitoring, even though the agency's watchdog called for increased funding to help determine industrial sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Agency officials, along with environmentalists and state officials, suggest that resources are limited and the IG's recommendations may not be a priority for EPA's monitoring program. Under its pending national monitoring strategy, EPA over the next few years will...

EPA CHIEF RAMPS UP CLEAR SKIES LOBBYING DURING CONGRESSIONAL RECESS

Acting EPA Administrator Steve Johnson is visiting the coal-producing states Illinois and Indiana during the congressional recess to lobby for the Clear Skies utility pollution bill, in an effort some industry sources call a bid to secure the support of Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), a key swing vote on the bill. Johnson's remarks to workers at a coal mine in Springfield, IL, on Feb. 23 and a meeting about the legislation in Indianapolis, IN, with Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) scheduled...

EPA URGING UTILITIES TO HIKE RATES FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

EPA officials are re-emphasizing the agency's philosophy that wastewater rates should reflect the full cost of wastewater treatment as an important component of efforts to achieve sustainable infrastructure. The push comes as Congress and others continue to express concern about the administration's limited fiscal year 2006 budget request for the clean water state revolving loan fund (SRF), which finances infrastructure projects. Industry consultants have also been encouraging wastewater treatment utilities to consider raising their rates, arguing that even though wastewater...

Child Health Advisers Unmoved By EPA Air Chief's Mercury Rule Push

EPA air chief Jeff Holmstead appears to have failed in convincing some agency advisers that an upcoming rule on mercury emissions from power plants would be protective enough of children's health. Holmstead spoke before an advisory committee on children's health after more than a year of requests by the group to meet with top agency officials about the rule, which is slated to be released within weeks. But some members of the advisory panel say they remain unconvinced of the...

EPA Defends Clean Air Settlements With Refiners Following Court Query

EPA and the Justice Department (DOJ) have issued an explanation of an environmental settlement with Chevron that provides a broad defense of the agency's negotiated agreements with refiners under a long-running Clean Air Act enforcement initiative. The government's explanation provides what several attorneys say is an unusual glimpse into the EPA negotiating strategy, including the rationale behind its decisions to negotiate broad settlements that may include concessions to industry, while limiting investigations into specific violations in order to avoid extended...

State Visits By EPA Chief Seen As Attempt To Affect Clear Skies Vote

Acting EPA Administrator Steve Johnson is visiting coal-producing states Illinois and Indiana during the congressional recess to lobby for Clear Skies, in an effort seen by industry sources as an attempt in part to secure the support of Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), a key swing vote on the bill. Johnson's remarks to workers at a coal mine in Springfield, IL, on Feb. 23 and a press event about the legislation at the Indiana State House in Indianapolis, with Gov. Mitch...

EPA To Expand Voluntary Programs Amid Deepening Budget Cuts

Senior EPA officials and regional directors are trying to improve and increase the agency's use of voluntary programs that encourage pollution cuts by industry, EPA sources say, as the agency is facing long-term budget shortfalls that could make it more reliant on such programs in future years. EPA acting Administrator Steve Johnson is taking a keen interest in the effort, sources say, prodding top agency staffers to boost the efficacy of voluntary programs and link industry's use of such programs...

FERC PUSH FOR LOW-COST ENERGY MAY BENEFIT ENVIRONMENT, SOURCES SAY

A proposal by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for expanded authority to require electricity utilities to use the lowest-cost power generation could result in environmental benefits in some areas of the country, as well as reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to industry officials and environmentalists. But one environmentalist says more analysis is needed to determine whether the additional authority would boost use of older coal-fired plants or result in cleaner sources of energy. At issue is a request...

SWEEPING NEW EPA PROPOSAL FOR PARK AIR RULES TO END 'INCREMENTS'

EPA is proposing to abolish local emissions limits known as 'increments' as one option in a sweeping new proposal to overhaul the way the agency sets pollution limits in its prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permit program, which covers national parks and other areas attaining air quality standards. The option, one of several in the new proposal, would set up nationwide or regional cap-and-trade programs in lieu of the increments. Environmentalists and some National Park Service (NPS) sources are criticizing...

STATES' CLIMATE MODEL SUGGESTS EFFICIENCY MAY LIMIT COSTS, LEAKAGE

New modeling data on New England's upcoming greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program suggests that major energy efficiency efforts could allow for a modest carbon dioxide (CO2) cap at very little cost to the economy, while also minimizing concerns about emissions "leakage" to other parts of the country, sources familiar with the modeling say. But industry officials are raising a host of concerns with the new modeling results. They question whether significant energy efficiency gains are feasible and say the model may...

WHITE HOUSE AGREES TO INCLUDE CLIMATE CHANGE MEASURES IN EPA REPORT

The White House has agreed to allow inclusion of three measures for evaluating the effectiveness of EPA climate change policies in the agency's upcoming report on the state of the environment. The move reflects a reversal from several years ago when the administration excluded any greenhouse gas references from an earlier version of the report. The upcoming report is the agency's second, and is intended to track environmental trends through the use of scientific indicators, such as emission releases. EPA...

INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE STUDY EXAMINES FEASIBILITY OF CO2 STORAGE

An upcoming report being developed by an international panel of experts may suggest it is possible to capture and store significant quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a way to curb climate change, without creating unmanageable environmental risks. But the report being developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) may also identify significant challenges for regulators, as well as gaps in the current legal and regulatory framework for such practices. At issue is a special report on CO2...

INDUSTRY ARGUES FOR CLIMATE TECHNOLOGY EFFORT INSTEAD OF RULES

An industry trade group is calling for a global effort to promote the development of new technologies that address greenhouse gas emissions, as an alternative to mandatory emissions reduction programs that the group considers costly and ineffectual. The report also indicates that EPA may have a role to play in crafting effective regulations for new innovations, such as nanotechnology, that may emerge as a way to curb these emissions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a report Feb. 16 calling...

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