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 Delays Deregulating Popular Chemical Based On Cancer Risk Data

EPA air officials have postponed for now the planned deregulation of a widely used solvent because of recent data on what they say is a closely related chemical that raises cancer risk concerns. But a chemical industry source says the substances are different enough to merit separate risk evaluations. Sources say the information prompted EPA air officials to hold off on including methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) in a group of seven other air toxins that the agency delisted from regulatory...

January Statement Expected From Schwarzenegger On Greenhouse Gas Goals

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is poised to announce as early as January a first-time goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to several sources tracking the issue. The move by the nation's largest state would add weight to similar efforts in other parts of the country, while adding the voice of a prominent Republican to the national debate. In advance of a possible announcement, California and two other western states have approved a series of staff-level recommendations on measures...

New Findings May Encourage Air Pollution Cuts To Reduce Heart Disease Risks

A yet-to-be published study suggesting that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is as much a contributor to heart disease as poor diet, stress and lack of exercise could help policymakers justify further reductions in the acceptable level of the pollutant, according to sources familiar with PM research. Researchers for the first time tested humans to examine what impact PM2.5 has on atherosclerosis -- a narrowing of the arteries that can lead to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. It...

GAO Nearing Completion Of Key Audit On Mercury Emission Controls

Congressional investigators are moving forward with a study of mercury-emission control technologies at electric utilities in a report they expect to issue in early 2005, just prior to EPA's release of its controversial mercury rule that is due by March 15. Nine senators, led by James Jeffords (I-VT), last spring asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, to provide information on "the availability, cost, effectiveness and use of technologies that power plants might install to limit...

PAVLEY, ARB HOPE GHG PITCH TO CANADA WILL TRIGGER 'CONTINENTAL SHIFT'

Assemblywoman Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) and a high-level air board staffer this week pitched to Canadian officials her landmark legislation requiring new regulations on automakers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Pavley and air board officials hope her visit will help trigger a "continental shift" in regulating GHG emissions, combined with the expectation that several key Northeast states will adopt the air board regulation. Chuck Shulock, the chief Air Resources Board staffer on the GHG regulation, was scheduled to accompany...

AUTOMAKERS PRESS ARB FOR SECOND HEARING ON VEHICLE GHG RULE

Automakers are seeking a second air board hearing on its controversial regulation requiring greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in future vehicles, charging multiple administrative law violations. But air board officials are declining these requests and intend soon to send the rule to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for final approval. It is widely expected that automakers will sue the state over the regulation once OAL approves the rule. Air Resources Board officials were scheduled this week to meet privately...

LACK OF VERIFIED CONTROLS, FUNDING KEY CONCERNS IN ARB OFF-ROAD RULE

Industry representatives say a total lack of verified particulate matter (PM)-control technology for heavy-duty diesel engines used in construction and other industries is a chief concern in air board staff's development of a first-time regulation to crack down on such equipment. Incentive funding, compliance schedules, costs and credit for existing cleaner fleets and early compliance options are other issues being aired by several major industries. Dubbed the "Diesel Off-road Equipment Measure," Air Resources Board staff is in the beginning stages...

EPA Revising Cost-Benefit Model To Account For Mercury Technology Limits

EPA is planning revisions to a controversial clean air cost-benefit model that will likely lead the agency to counter claims by state and environmental groups that industry can achieve early emission reduction targets that are stricter than what EPA has proposed in its mercury control plan. The agency is revising a key assumption in its integrated planning model (IPM) -- that technology needed to achieve steep reductions in mercury emissions would be available immediately -- to reflect agency data showing...

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...

Environmentalists Pursue Novel Argument Against EPA Air Toxics Rule

Environmentalists are making a novel argument in a legal challenge to EPA's landmark air toxics rule for industrial boilers, suggesting that the agency's decision to create exemptions that limit public health benefits may be unlawful. The environmentalists say the Bush administration's pursuit of regulatory proposals with lower cost-benefit ratios than more protective options is arbitrary and should be reversed under the Administrative Procedure Act. "At best, EPA's decision to authorize such exemptions despite its own data concerning the inevitable damage...

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...

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