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.

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...

GROUPS SEEK U.S. TREATY APPROVAL TO LET EPA REGULATE SULFUR IN SHIPS

With support from EPA, the shipping industry and environmentalists are urging the Senate to ratify an international shipping agreement before the treaty takes effect this year, allowing the agency to join regional efforts to regulate sulfur emissions in maritime fuel. Industry officials say that if the treaty takes effect without U.S. participation, it could prompt ship operators to bypass U.S. ports. "This is something that shippers, the port authorities and EPA all agree on. I can't think of anyone that...

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...

INDUSTRY TO AIR CONCERNS OVER MONITORING CHANGES IN OLDER AIR RULES

Industry officials are likely to urge EPA to be cautious in revising old air pollution rules to impose stricter monitoring requirements because modern monitoring technology could create unattainable standards, sources say. However, industry officials may also argue that revisions to older air rules are unnecessary because many facilities will face new obligations for monitoring when they renew their comprehensive air permits in the coming years. Environmentalists counter that additional monitoring requirements are necessary and say these requirements should come through...

LAST-MINUTE CHANGES TO CLEAR SKIES FAIL TO PERSUADE BILL'S OPPONENTS

Last-minute changes to the Clear Skies bill are doing nothing to allay fears from Senate Democrats and other critics of the legislation that it will have major negative impacts on a range of pressing air issues, even though the bill's sponsors attempted to address concerns ranging from mercury hotspots to climate change. Opponents, such as environmentalists and state officials, say a number of amendments put forward in a "manager's mark" of the bill on Feb. 15 only slightly modify 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 proposal. Some observers say Inhofe's inquiry could distract key players from pending talks on the Clear Skies bill at a time when key lawmakers, congressional staff and others are seeking to develop a compromise...

CLEAR SKIES CRITICS DOUBT TWO-WEEK MARKUP DELAY WILL PROMPT DEAL

Democrats and other critics of the Bush administration's Clear Skies utility pollution legislation say they are pessimistic that Senate Republicans' decision to delay an environment committee markup for two weeks will result in a broad compromise, and are instead calling for more open-ended discussions. These critics say the two weeks allotted for the talks does not provide enough time to address carbon dioxide (CO2) and other complex issues, in part because lawmakers will not be able to meet face-to-face during...

UTILITY REGULATORS BACK COAL GASIFICATION TO REDUCE POLLUTION

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) passed a policy resolution that supports state and federal incentives for the production of electricity from gasified coal, in an effort to ease demand for natural gas and reduce environmental pollution. The Feb. 16 resolution, passed at the group's winter meeting this week in Washington, DC, calls on states to develop policies that ease utility investments in the technology, referred to as integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), and to consider adopting alternative...

WESTERN STATES HOPE TO MINIMIZE IMPACT OF COURT RULING ON HAZE

Western state officials are trying to assess whether they can minimize the impact of a recent federal court ruling that may invalidate an emissions trading program for several western states designed to improve visibility. A source with the Western Governors' Association (WGA) says there is some discussion underway on whether it might be possible for states or EPA to provide additional analysis to bolster the legal basis for the trading program. "We are going to look at the decision and...

INDUSTRY PRESSING CALIFORNIA AIR DISTRICT TO SLOW, RELAX ENGINE RULE

Utilities and agriculture organizations are urging California's South Coast air district to slow down and relax a controversial draft rule that would crack down on thousands of stationary internal combustion engines, which is being promulgated as a result of a landmark state law that requires agricultural engines to obtain permits. The rule is considered significant because it represents the second attempt by a state air district to begin the permitting and regulatory crackdown on agriculture engines. At issue is the...

ENVIRONMENTALISTS CALL FOR EXPANSION OF CLOSELY WATCHED AIR BOARD

An environmental group is asking California's legislature to mandate increased public representation for the air district in the state's Central Valley, as the heavily polluted region considers several regulatory initiatives that could have national implications. But any legislative push to reform the state's San Joaquin Valley air district is likely to stir up controversy, after a similar bill was defeated last year in the face of local government and industry opposition. The air district is now considering landmark measures, including...

ACTIVISTS CLAIM NEW BOILER STANDARDS MODELED ON LAX CLEAR SKIES LIMITS

Environmentalists are charging that pollution limits in new EPA proposals setting emissions standards for industrial steam-generating units are modeled after the Bush administration's Clear Skies bill, but say the facilities could achieve more stringent standards using existing technology. "They're doing the exact same thing that's in the Clear Skies Act, even though there's plants in the West that have been permitted to do better," one environmentalist says. The agency released a Feb. 10 proposal to strengthen existing new source performance...

CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE OFFICIALS MAY CHANGE EMISSIONS TARGETS

America's major voluntary carbon emissions trading program, the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), may adjust the "baseline" years that are used to target emissions reductions -- making it easier to attract more companies into the program. CCX officials are also considering other changes to the voluntary trading network, such as recognizing projects in developing countries. Several dozen companies have been participating since 2003 in the exchange, which creates a market for emissions credits for carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases,...

REVISED MCCAIN-LIEBERMAN BILL WOULD EXAMINE GREENHOUSE IMPACT ON POOR

A new version of climate change legislation introduced by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) calls on the Department of Commerce to study the effect of global warming on low-income populations around the world. The proposal is one of the few changes the senators have made to the legislation from a version introduced in last year's Congress, as they seek to broaden support for establishing climate change regulations. The legislation, introduced Feb. 10, is the latest version of...

Data Show Minimal Costs From New England's CO2 Cap-And-Trade Program

New modeling data on New England's upcoming greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program suggest 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...

Industry Study Pushes Global Technology Rather Than CO2 Regulations

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...

Senate Clean Air Chairman Seeks Distance From Inhofe Inquiry Of State 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 representing state air officials that opposes the Bush administration's Clear Skies utility emissions proposal. Some observers say Inhofe's inquiry could distract key players from pending talks on the Clear Skies bill at a time when key lawmakers, congressional staff and others are seeking to develop a compromise...

Western States Hope To Minimize Impact Of Court Ruling On Regional Haze

Western state officials are trying to assess whether they can minimize the impact of a recent federal court ruling that may invalidate an emissions trading program for several western states designed to improve visibility. A source with the Western Governors' Association (WGA) says there is some discussion underway on whether it might be possible for states or EPA provide additional analysis to bolster the legal basis for the trading program. "We are going to look at the decision and determine...

FERC Push For Low-Cost Energy May Benefit Environment

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...

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