First GHG Emissions Standards for Commercial Aircraft Proposed by EPA
On July 22, 2020, the EPA proposed the first greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for new commercial aircraft that will apply to all large passenger jets.
Tag: Clean Air Act
CSB Continues to Experience Management Challenges
The fiscal year (FY) 2020 report by the EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) on the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s (CSB) management challenges reveals that the board’s continued issues will impede its ability to effectively operate.
EPA’s Particulate Matter Decision Will Likely Result in Litigation
The EPA recently announced it would not be making any changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM).
In Its 50th Year, EPA Reports Nation Experiencing Cleaner Air
The EPA recently released its annual air quality report, which concluded that air quality nationwide continues to improve. Our nation’s air quality is 77% cleaner today than it was in 1970, according to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
What’s Going to Happen to the Affirmative Defense Within SIPs?
Affirmative defense provisions within state implementation plans (SIPs) have long been a controversial topic and the subject of litigation against the EPA.
EPA’s Proposed Cost-Benefit Analysis Rule Seeks Consistency, Transparency, and Public Comment
The EPA proposed a new rule on June 11, 2020, that would impose specific requirements for the Agency to utilize uniform and transparent “high-quality analysis” in its statutory obligations in the rulemaking process under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Many statutes, including the CAA, include cost consideration language but do not provide exact guidelines or […]
EPA Fines Fertilizer Plants, Highlighting the Failure of Many Facilities to Monitor Risks
Two recent Clean Air Act (CAA) settlements—one in Iowa and the other in Kansas—serve as a reminder for companies to review their risk management plans (RMPs) to ensure compliance with the EPA’s Chemical Accident Prevention requirements.
A Look at EPA’s Finalized Amendments for Organic Liquids Distribution Facilities
On March 12, 2020, the EPA finalized its rule amending the 2004 National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Organic Liquids Distribution (OLD NESHAP). Organic Liquids Distribution (OLD) air toxics standards regulate chemical and petrochemical facilities that manufacture, distribute, and store organic liquids, except gasoline and its derivatives. These standards limit the quantity of […]
Technological Advancements Reflected in Site Remediation NESHAP Amendments
In 2003, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the EPA established the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Site Remediation (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart GGGGG). In 2006, the rule was revised to address questions and clarifications, as well as technical errors in the original version. Many years later, in 2019, the […]
Court Rules EPA Must Set New Limits for Omitted HAPs
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia decided in April 2020 that the EPA is required under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to set additional emissions limits on hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from pulp mills covered by the National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Chemical Recovery Combustion Sources at […]