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 Claims Limited Powers To Control Major Source Of Dioxin Pollution

A new draft EPA report on dioxin emissions finds that backyard burning of trash is now the largest source of the pollutant, a development that may limit the agency's ability to further curtail exposures to the neurotoxin because EPA says it lacks regulatory authority over such waste disposal practices. But activists say the draft report , which shows dramatic reductions in U.S. dioxin emissions over the last decade, is based on limited data that ignores community-led efforts to shut down...

EPA Poised To Release Interstate Air Rule, Likely Prompting Lawsuits

EPA is expected to publish its clean air interstate rule (CAIR) in the May 12 Federal Register , according to an agency spokesman, more than two months after the agency first announced its controversial cap-and-trade plan to cut nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from power plants. Publication of the rule is important because it makes it subject to lawsuits, which are possible by both environmentalists and industry. The utility industry criticized the proposed CAIR as being more stringent...

California Agrees To Review Health Effects Data On Ozone Standard

California air regulators agreed to delay adoption of a controversial health benefits section of a new state eight-hour ozone standard approved late last month, in response to industry criticism of revisions to estimates on the lives saved by the rule. The estimates, which industry fears could spur new policies or regulations to crack down on air pollution sources, will be the subject of an upcoming meeting by California air board staff. Sources say the outcome of the controversy could have...

Industry Fears Senate Push To Expand Asbestos Compensation Bill

Industry lobbyists are raising concerns about an anticipated push in the Senate to allow victims of environmental exposure to asbestos to receive compensation under a proposed trust fund to address worker ailments, a move that could dramatically increase the size of the proposed $140 billion industry-funded program. The anticipated push stems from an amendment by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) that would allow for compensation of victims who lived near a West Chicago, IL, site contaminated with asbestos. Durbin's amendment would...

New Hampshire Congressman Eyes Deadline Change To MTBE Waiver

Republican sources say a congressman from New Hampshire is working on an amendment that would push back the effective date of a proposed liability waiver for manufacturers of the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), in an attempt to preserve a pending groundwater contamination lawsuit filed by his home state. The amendment could help clear final passage of the MTBE liability waiver by picking up the votes of New Hampshire's two senators, who last year rejected a similar proposal...

Administration Plans First Meeting On Climate Change Strategy

The Bush administration is announcing plans for the first government-wide meeting on climate change research since release of its broad plan in 2003, with officials from EPA and 12 other agencies expected to be in attendance. The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) meeting, scheduled for November 14-16, was announced May 4 in the Federal Register. The meeting, which is being organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will focus on topics in the final administration plan , which...

OIL INDUSTRY SEEKS TO DELAY, RELAX EPA'S LOW-SULFUR DIESEL RULE

Oil industry officials are urging EPA to delay by as much as one year the agency's upcoming low-sulfur diesel standard, and are calling on the agency to raise allowable sulfur levels several parts per million (ppm) higher than EPA's 15 ppm standard, according to sources tracking the issue. Several industry groups, including the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA), recently sent a list of options to EPA for granting such regulatory flexibility, including putting...

CLASH LOOMS OVER BILL RESTRICTING MOBILE-TO-STATIONARY AIR CREDITS

Major industry organizations and air officials are clashing with environmentalists over a bill that aims to protect low-income areas with air quality problems by restricting the use of mobile source trading credits to offset stationary source pollution. Opponents of the measure claim the bill will cripple efforts by state officials to craft multiple-credit trading schemes critical to allowing continued industrial and economic growth in California. But supporters chide some air and oil industry officials as mischaracterizing the bill to ensure...

ARB AGREES TO REVIEW OZONE STANDARD'S DISPUTED DEATH ESTIMATES

Air board officials agreed to delay adoption of a controversial health benefits section tied to the new state eight-hour ozone standard approved last week, based on complaints by industry groups that the latest death and illness prevention figures were revised using a new methodology not available to the public. The estimates, which industry fears could spur new policies or regulations to crack down harder on pollution sources, will be the subject of an upcoming meeting by air board staff. After...

LED BY SEATTLE, U.S. CITIES CALL FOR ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Several major cities nationwide are promoting a resolution set to be voted on at the next U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting, calling on municipalities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while urging the federal government to take action on this contentious issue. Spearheaded by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels (D), the effort seeks 141 cities to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement before the U.S. Conference of Mayors meets in mid-June in Chicago. The 141 figure is intended to...

TURF BATTLE MAY ENSUE OVER MEASURE GIVING ARB SMOG CHECK CONTROL

A bill transferring control of the state's motor vehicle Smog Check program to the air board from the automotive repair bureau is stirring discontent among some state officials and affected stakeholders, who fear such a switch could lessen effective communication with the industry and consumers and negatively impact other bureau programs, according to sources. But supporters of the measure say air board control is crucial to improving Smog Check, which is reducing pollution at about only half the rate promised...

GROUPS SAY EPA SEEKS TO IMPLEMENT MACT OFF-RAMP WHILE HALTING SUIT

Environmental groups and state air officials say EPA is seeking to implement unprecedented exemptions from air toxics regulations for the plywood industry while fending off the groups' challenge to the legality of the exemptions. But EPA says it needs more time to respond to administrative petitions from the same activists to reconsider the rule. EPA's landmark rule for plywood and composite wood producers, published last year, drew challenges from environmentalists and others for including controversial off-ramps for companies that could...

EPA RETREATS ON CLEAN AIR ANALYSIS FOLLOWING JOHNSON CONFIRMATION

EPA appears likely to renege on an earlier pledge to conduct an analysis of the public health benefits of various clean air legislative proposals after the Senate approved Steve Johnson to be EPA administrator. The agency had offered to conduct the review after Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) placed a hold on Johnson's confirmation, but Carper indicated this response was inadequate. An EPA official says the agency has no plans to provide to Carper any new clean air analysis. "The proposal...

NORTHEAST SEEKS PACT WITH MIDWEST, SOUTH TO CUT EMISSIONS BEYOND CAIR

Northeast and mid-Atlantic states want to work with states in other regions to reduce power plant emissions far beyond what is required under EPA's new clean air interstate rule (CAIR), possibly in a regional cap-and-trade program covering the entire eastern United States, officials say. Midwestern and southern state officials say they have not evaluated such a proposal, but are pursuing their own ideas for further reductions in nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from power plants. The widespread...

SENATE KILLS HIGHWAY BILL PROVISION EXPANDING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS

A freshman Senate Republican has successfully removed a provision in the pending transportation bill that he and industry proponents say would have undermined the bill's ability to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act's (NEPA) review process for new highway projects. The Senate last week eliminated a provision in the bill requiring the government to "ensure" that industry has considered whether a highway project would cause damage to the environment. Lawmakers adopted by voice vote an amendment by Sen. John Thune...

ACTIVISTS HOPE CALIFORNIA OZONE STANDARD SETS BAR FOR NEW EPA LEVELS

Even though it lacks enforceability, environmentalists hope to use the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) strict new 8-hour ozone standard as a marker for a future EPA standard as the agency's scientific advisers begin reviewing the adequacy of the national ozone limit. However, industry groups that objected to the California change say they will continue to fight any effort to impose an equivalent national standard. CARB April 28 adopted a new 8-hour ozone standard, which sets the acceptable limit for...

Northeast Delays Landmark Climate Change Strategy To Assess Local Effects

The Northeast will likely postpone unveiling its framework for a regional greenhouse gas initiative (RGGI) expected this summer to allow participating states time to assess the energy and financial impacts of the landmark cap-and-trade emissions program, officials in the region say. Officials working on the program also say they are likely to give wide discretion to states in deciding how to implement the initiative, leaving a daunting task ahead for governors and state legislators between now and the target date...

States Plan Lawsuit Over Coal Market Impacts Of EPA Mercury Rule

The governor of Illinois and the state's new senator, Barack Obama (D-IL), are joining a growing number of state officials mostly in the East who are concerned that EPA's mercury regulations create an unfair advantage for coal mined in the West, setting the stage for these states to file suit over the rule following its publication in the Federal Register. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has announced that he would join a chorus of states in challenging the power plant...

Oil Industry Seeks Delay In Clean-Diesel Rule To Ease Delivery Snags

Oil industry officials are urging EPA to delay by as much as one year the agency's upcoming low-sulfur diesel standard, calling on the agency to temporarily raise allowable sulfur levels several parts per million (ppm) higher than EPA's 15 ppm standard, according to sources tracking the issue. Several industry groups, including the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA), recently sent a list of options to EPA for granting such regulatory flexibility, including putting off...

ACTIVISTS HOPE CALIFORNIA OZONE STANDARD SETS BAR FOR NEW EPA LEVELS

Even though it lacks enforceability, environmentalists hope to use the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) strict new 8-hour ozone standard as a marker for a future EPA standard as the agency's scientific advisors begin reviewing the adequacy of the national ozone limit this week. However, industry groups that objected to the California change say they will continue to fight any effort to impose an equivalent national standard. CARB April 28 adopted a new 8-hour ozone standard, which sets the acceptable...

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