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Author: James E. McCarthy
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1437980880
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 23
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Book Description
Although air quality has improved substantially in the U.S. in the 40 years of the EPA's Clean Air Act regulation, many issues remain unresolved. Recently, members of Congress from both parties have raised questions regarding the cost-effectiveness of, and authority for, EPA actions. This report focuses on three areas of likely interest to the 112th Congress: greenhouse gas regulations, emissions from power plants (including interstate pollution and mercury emissions), and air quality standards. Contents: Intro.; EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations; Legislation on Climate Change; Emissions from Power Plants; Clean Air Interstate Rule; Clean Air Mercury Rule; Air Quality Standards; Other Issues. Illustrations. This is a print on demand report.
Author: James E. McCarthy
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1437980880
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 23
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Book Description
Although air quality has improved substantially in the U.S. in the 40 years of the EPA's Clean Air Act regulation, many issues remain unresolved. Recently, members of Congress from both parties have raised questions regarding the cost-effectiveness of, and authority for, EPA actions. This report focuses on three areas of likely interest to the 112th Congress: greenhouse gas regulations, emissions from power plants (including interstate pollution and mercury emissions), and air quality standards. Contents: Intro.; EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations; Legislation on Climate Change; Emissions from Power Plants; Clean Air Interstate Rule; Clean Air Mercury Rule; Air Quality Standards; Other Issues. Illustrations. This is a print on demand report.
Author: James E. Mccarthy
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
ISBN: 9781481070775
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 34
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Book Description
Air quality has improved substantially in the United States in the 40 years of EPA's Clean Air Act regulation, but more needs to be done, according to the agency's science advisers, to protect public health and the environment from the effects of air pollution. Thus, the agency continues to promulgate regulations addressing air pollution using authority given it by Congress more than 20 years ago. In the 112th Congress, Members from both parties have raised questions about the cost effectiveness of some of these regulations and/or whether the agency has exceeded its regulatory authority in promulgating them. Others in Congress have supported EPA, noting that the Clean Air Act, often affirmed in court decisions, has authorized or required the agency's actions. EPA's regulatory actions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been one focus of congressional interest. Although the Obama Administration has consistently said that it would prefer that Congress pass new legislation to address climate change, such legislation now seems unlikely. Instead, over the last three years, EPA has developed GHG regulations using its existing Clean Air Act authority. EPA finalized GHG emission standards for cars and light trucks on April 1, 2010, and on August 28, 2012, and for larger trucks on August 9, 2011. The implementation of these standards, in turn, triggered permitting and Best Available Control Technology requirements for new major stationary sources of GHGs. It is the triggering of standards for stationary sources (power plants, manufacturing facilities, etc.) that has raised the most concern in Congress: legislation has been considered in both the House and Senate aimed at preventing EPA from implementing these requirements. In the first session of this Congress, the House passed H.R. 1, which contained provisions prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to implement various EPA GHG regulatory activities, and H.R. 910, a bill that would repeal EPA's endangerment finding, redefine “air pollutants” to exclude greenhouse gases, and prohibit EPA from promulgating any regulation to address climate change. In the Senate, H.R. 1 was defeated, and an amendment identical to H.R. 910 (S.Amdt. 183) failed on a vote of 50-50. EPA has taken action on a number of other air pollutant regulations, generally in response to court actions remanding previous rules. Remanded rules have included the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Clean Air Mercury Rule—rules designed to control the long-range transport of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury from power plants through cap-and-trade programs. Other remanded rules included hazardous air pollutant (“MACT”) standards for boilers and cement kilns. EPA is addressing the court remands through new regulations, that have now been promulgated. Many in Congress view the new regulations as overly stringent. The House has passed three bills (H.R. 2250, H.R. 2401, and H.R. 2681) to delay or revoke the new standards and change the statutory requirements for their replacements. In addition to the power plant and MACT rules, EPA is also reviewing ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone, particulates, and other widespread air pollutants. These standards serve as EPA's definition of clean air, and drive a range of regulatory controls. The revised NAAQS also face opposition in Congress. As passed by the House, H.R. 2401 would amend the Clean Air Act to require EPA to consider feasibility and cost in setting NAAQS, and H.R. 1633 would prevent EPA from setting standards for ambient concentrations of rural dust.
Author: Congressional Research Service
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781503005662
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 26
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Book Description
As the 113th Congress has considered air quality issues, oversight of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory actions has been the main focus. Of particular interest has been EPA's Clean Air Act regulations on emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Reducing GHG emissions to address climate change is a major goal of President Obama, but Congress has been less enthusiastic about it. In the absence of congressional action, the President has directed EPA to promulgate GHG standards using existing authority under the Clean Air Act. This authority has been upheld on at least three occasions by the Supreme Court, but it remains controversial in Congress. EPA's most recent GHG actions have involved power plants. On June 2, 2014, the agency proposed GHG emission standards for existing fossil-fueled (coal, oil, and natural gas) power plants. These plants are the source of one-third of the nation's GHG emissions, so it is difficult to envision a regulatory scheme that reduces the nation's GHG emissions without addressing their contribution. At the same time, affordable and reliable electric power is central to the nation's economy and to the health and well-being of the population. Thus, the effects of the proposed rule on the electric power system are of considerable interest. Even before proposal of the existing power plant standards, the House had passed legislation (H.R. 3826) that would effectively prohibit EPA from promulgating or implementing power plant GHG emission standards. On September 18, 2014, the House passed the same language a second time, in H.R. 2. The Senate has not considered either bill, but it could still be asked to consider similar measures as amendments or riders on other legislation considered likely to pass in the lame duck session. Although it has not finalized the power plant GHG regulations, EPA has implemented permit and Best Available Control Technology requirements for new stationary sources of GHGs under a separate Clean Air Act provision, the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. Minimum thresholds have exempted smaller pollution sources from this program, and few facilities have needed to obtain permits. Nevertheless, EPA's authority to implement these requirements was challenged in court. In a June 23, 2014, decision, the Supreme Court largely upheld EPA's authority. Besides addressing climate change, EPA has taken action on a number of other air pollution regulations, often in response to court actions remanding previous rules. Remanded rules included the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and Clean Air Mercury Rule—rules designed to control the long-range transport of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury from power plants through cap-and-trade programs. Other remanded rules included hazardous air pollutant standards for boilers and cement kilns. The agency has also developed revisions of several existing air standards—in general, the Clean Air Act mandates that existing standards be reviewed periodically and revised if appropriate. On March 3, 2014, EPA revised regulations that limit the sulfur content of gasoline, in conjunction with tighter (“Tier3”) standards for motor vehicle emissions. The agency has also proposed revised standards for wood and pellet stoves and proposed standards for other types of wood heaters for the first time. EPA is also reviewing ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone. The agency is under court order to complete a proposed revision of the ozone NAAQS by December 1, 2014. NAAQS serve as EPA's definition of clean air for six widespread pollutants, and drive a range of regulatory controls.
Author: James E. McCarthy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 28
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Book Description
Author: Susan L. Mayer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 11
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Author: James E. McCarthy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 13
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Author: James E McCarthy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
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The Clean Air Act and its 1990 amendments appear to have contributed to a marked improvement in air quality nationwide. Of nearly 100 metropolitan areas not meeting air quality standards for ozone in 1990, more than two-thirds now do so. Even greater progress has been achieved with carbon monoxide: 36 of 42 areas not in attainment in 1990 now meet the standard. Nevertheless, EPA remains concerned about air pollution. In 1997, the Agency promulgated major revisions to its air quality standards for ozone and particulates, an action that would require most states and urban areas to establish additional controls on a wide range of pollution sources. The revised standards were challenged by numerous parties and the courts have remanded the standards to EPA. Implementation is currently in limbo, pending resolution of appeals by the Supreme Court.
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 26
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Attention to environmental issues in the 110th Congress has focused early and heavily on climate change -- the state of the science, and whether (and, if so, how) to address greenhouse gas emissions. Six bills had been introduced to establish caps on greenhouse gas emissions as of the end of March, and hearings on climate change have been held by at least seven committees. The Speaker of the House set a June deadline for House committee action on legislation, and established a Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming to highlight the issue. Four of the six greenhouse gas bills introduced as of this writing would amend the Clean Air Act, establishing a new Title VII to address the issue. More such legislation, as well as free-standing legislation, is likely to be introduced as the session continues. Whether or not climate change legislation would amend the Clean Air Act, climate change hearings and markup are among the highest expressed priorities in the coming months for the committees that have jurisdiction over air issues (principally the Senate Environment and Public Works and House Energy and Commerce Committees). Other clean air issues are less likely to be the main focus of attention, but they may be addressed, especially through oversight of Administration actions. In general, EPA regulatory and procedural actions are likely to be more subject to scrutiny in this Congress, given its intention to reinvigorate the oversight function. Potential oversight issues include: (1) whether EPA's new standards for ambient concentrations of fine particulates and its soon-to-be-proposed standards for ozone adequately reflect the state of the science; (2) whether EPA should continue to regulate lead as one of six pollutants for which it sets national ambient air quality standards; (3) whether the EPA's recently announced changes in the process for setting ambient air quality standards politicize what traditionally have been scientific judgments; and (4) how best to control emissions of mercury and other pollutants from electric power plants. State governments and courts have also taken action on air issues that may have broad implications for EPA and state authority to control greenhouse gases and to regulate power plants. In the more sweeping of the two cases, Massachusetts v. EPA, the Court found that EPA has authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles. Other cases involving climate change, clean air standards, and the regulation of power plants are pending at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and in a number of federal and state courts. Decisions in these cases may prompt hearings or legislation. In addition, states interested in setting more stringent environmental standards are continuing to develop and implement regulations that go well beyond the requirements of federal law.
Author: James E McCarthy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
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This Issue Brief discusses clean air issues that arose in the 105th Congress. CRS Issue Brief IB10004 addresses the 106th Congress.
Author: James E. McCarthy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 12
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