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.

EPA Sees Boost To Air Rules From Data On Ozone And Mortality Rates

EPA will include for the first time new information about ozone and mortality rates that could support federal ozone controls as part of an upcoming cost-benefit review of the agency's Clean Air Act program. The move will likely boost the estimated benefits, and garner broader support, for a number of air quality standards, including the administration's upcoming mercury, particulate matter and regional haze rules. Sources say the new findings will allow EPA to push for approval of more costly, tougher...

Stevens Suggests ANWR Revenue Could Pay For Climate Change Impacts

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), a longtime proponent of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), is suggesting that revenues from future ANWR oil be used to help relocate Alaskan villages affected by climate change. "We are going to open ANWR . . . and we are going to dedicate a portion of revenues" to the problem, Stevens said Nov. 16 at a Senate commerce committee hearing on a comprehensive assessment outlining the effects of climate change on the Arctic...

Senate Democrat Claims GOP Support For Clean Air Talks With EPA

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) says he has enlisted two key Republican colleagues in his effort to meet with EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt to discuss the administration's use of "good science" and emerging technologies to reduce utility air emissions, in advance of an upcoming congressional debate on multi-pollutant legislation. Carper says Sens. George Voinovich (R-OH), the chairman of the Senate environment panel's clean air subcommittee, and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) are awaiting a response from Leavitt on their request for a meeting...

Landmark EPA-Funded Study Links Ozone, Mortality For First Time

A study released Nov. 16 links for the first time ground-level ozone concentrations to death rates, finding that a reduction of 10 parts per billion (ppb) of ozone could save an average of 4,000 lives per year. The study is likely to have major implications for EPA air quality standards, with environmentalists having already jumped on the findings to argue that the agency should consider tightening its 8-hour ozone standard. The landmark study by researchers at Yale and Johns Hopkins...

EPA COST-EFFECTIVENESS STUDY ON PM LIMITS FINDS SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS

A major new EPA study of the benefits of particulate matter (PM) controls suggests that costly air quality regulations -- like the Clean Air Interstate Rule and diesel rules -- have almost three times as many benefits as necessary to be considered cost-effective. The finding could give agency officials leeway to argue for strict regulatory requirements because they can justify the high costs the regulations may impose on regulated entities. "Air pollution regulations achieving ambient PM2.5 reduction for less than...

Chemical Industry Plans First-Time Reporting Of Greenhouse Gases

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) will launch a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting system to track its progress in achieving the Bush administration's goal of 18 percent carbon intensity reductions by the end of the decade -- the first time a majority of the chemical industry has agreed to report its emissions of global warming-producing gases. Officials from the chemical sector and other industry observers say the move reflects increasing industry acknowledgment that it will face global warming requirements in...

Coal Industry Seeks Clean Air Act Overhaul To Boost Power Generation

Coal industry advisors to the federal government are recommending the elimination of the current air quality permitting system of reviewing the technology requirements for new power plants on a case-by-case basis, to be replaced by a national standard that would be reviewed every two or three years. The recommendation is detailed in a report developed by the National Coal Council and submitted to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, who asked the industry last November to offer a strategy for easing record-high...

California Eyes Content Rules For Liquefied Natural Gas To Minimize Pollutants

California energy and air officials are considering whether to develop content specifications for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce potential pollution and ensure the proper function of appliances and industrial equipment powered by hotter-burning imports of the fuel. The potential for state standards poses a plethora of questions, including whether energy providers would be required to "clean up" imported LNG prior to distribution, or whether pipeline operators and consumers would share some of the burden. Officials with the California Energy...

L.A. RECORDS BEST OZONE SEASON ON RECORD, BUT MAINTAINS CALL FOR NEW RULES

Citing unusually cooler weather, South Coast air district officials say 2004 was the best air quality season on record, which spans almost 30 years. Last year, South Coast officials said unseasonably hot weather contributed to the worst smog season over the previous six years. Moderate temperatures this summer and more rain in early fall led to 27 days when ozone levels exceeded the federal one-hour standard, compared with 68 days last year, according to the district. "Cleaner cars, businesses and...

PAINT INDUSTRY EYES LEGISLATION TO PREEMPT DISPUTED STATE OZONE RULES

Paint industry officials are launching a lobbying campaign to amend the Clean Air Act to preempt states from enacting limits on ozone precursors found in paint and coatings that are stricter than what federal ozone standards require, industry sources say. Current U.S. EPA ozone rules allow states to impose more stringent limits on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with EPA's permission, but the industry is urging Congress to preempt that option -- except possibly in states in extreme non-attainment with ozone...

EXPERTS SAY NATIONAL CLEAN-FUEL STANDARD PREFERABLE IN LONG-TERM

State officials and oil and auto industry representatives said this week they believe a national clean-gasoline standard should be pursued in the long run to provide consistency and to eliminate the patchwork of "boutique" fuel requirements that have taken hold across the country. But achieving this goal is a long way off and faces substantial hurdles, including bringing U.S. EPA on board and hammering out technical issues within the industries. At an Air Resources Board workshop this week on its...

EPA REJECTS CLAIMS THAT CAIR WILL HINDER HILL PUSH FOR CLEAR SKIES

Senior EPA officials are resisting pressure to delay or drop the agency's clean air interstate rule (CAIR) amid congressional fears that finalizing the rule may sap momentum from the administration's Clear Skies bill. The EPA officials are arguing that expected litigation over the rule and resulting delays will still spur Congress to act swiftly on the bill. "I am quite confident that we will issue CAIR before the end of the year" even though "there are still some pretty strong...

PAINT INDUSTRY EYES LEGISLATION TO PREEMPT DISPUTED STATE OZONE RULES

ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Paint industry officials are launching a lobbying campaign to amend the Clean Air Act to preempt states from enacting limits on ozone precursors found in paint and coatings that are stricter than what federal ozone standards require, industry sources say. Current EPA ozone rules allow states to impose more stringent limits on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with EPA's permission, but the industry is urging Congress to preempt that option -- except possibly in states in extreme non-attainment...

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY PLANS FIRST-TIME REPORTING OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) will launch a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting system to track its progress in achieving the Bush administration's goal of 18 percent carbon intensity reductions by the end of the decade -- the first time a majority of the chemical industry has agreed to report its emissions of global warming-producing gases. Chemical industry sources and other industry observers say the move reflects increasing industry acknowledgment that it will face global warming requirements in the near...

EPA UNLIKELY TO CONDUCT NEW MODELING FOR UTILITY MERCURY EMISSIONS RULE

EPA seems unlikely to conduct any new modeling for the utility mercury emissions rule it will finalize in March 2005, despite earlier promises by Administrator Mike Leavitt to conduct additional analysis of the agency's proposal and more stringent alternatives. Instead, EPA is likely to release for public comment by the end of this month a notice of data availability (NODA) containing modeling already submitted to the agency by outside groups that shows a range of conclusions, including an Edison Electric...

EPA Unlikely To Conduct New Modeling For Mercury Emissions Rule

EPA seems unlikely to conduct any new modeling for the utility mercury emissions rule it will finalize in March 2005, despite earlier promises by Administrator Mike Leavitt to conduct additional analysis of the agency's proposal and more stringent alternatives. Instead, EPA is likely to release for public comment by the end of this month a notice of data availability (NODA) containing modeling already submitted to the agency by outside groups that shows a range of conclusions, including an Edison Electric...

Paint Industry Eyes Legislation To Preempt Disputed State Ozone Rules

ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Paint industry officials are launching a lobbying campaign to amend the Clean Air Act to preempt states from enacting limits on ozone precursors found in paint and coatings that are stricter than federal ozone requirements, industry sources say. Current EPA ozone rules allow states to impose more stringent limits on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with EPA's permission, but the industry is urging Congress to preempt that option -- except possibly in states in extreme non-attainment with ozone...

EPA Rejects Claims That CAIR Will Hinder Hill Push For Clear Skies

Senior EPA officials are resisting pressure to delay or drop the agency's clean air interstate rule (CAIR) amid congressional fears that finalizing the rule may sap momentum from the administration's Clear Skies bill. The EPA officials are arguing that expected litigation over the rule and resulting delays will still spur Congress to act swiftly on the bill. "I am quite confident that we will issue CAIR before the end of the year" even though "there are still some pretty strong...

Environmentalists Cite Unusual Ruling To Speed EPA Air Toxics Rule

Environmentalists are citing a recent federal appeals court's unusually detailed ruling that defines when an agency's timetable for action is unreasonable to urge the court to make EPA promptly set new air toxics standards required by a 2000 court order for cement kilns. The environmentalists say the new ruling also provides them ammunition to speed EPA's compliance with several other court orders -- some handed down as recently as last summer -- on pending air toxics requirements for polyvinyl chloride...

EPA Approves State Ozone Plan Despite Paint Industry's Data Challenge

EPA regional officials have effectively rejected a novel industry data quality challenge to Pennsylvania's ozone reduction plan despite the intervention of a key senator and EPA's air chief -- and are poised to approve similarly disputed programs in Maryland and New York, according to state sources, environmentalists and EPA officials. State sources say the decision could protect the information supporting state regulations that are subject to EPA approval from further challenges under under the Information Quality Act, which they consider...

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