CAA

March 20, 2023

EPA Finalizes “Good Neighbor Plan” Targeting Ozone-Creating NOx Emissions in 23 States

On March 15, 2023, EPA finalized its Good Neighbor Plan under the Clean Air Act (“CAA”), a rule designed to reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution from power plants and other industrial facilities in 23 upwind states that impact compliance with ambient air quality standards in downwind states. Continue reading

Air

air pollution, Allison A. Torrence, CAA, Clean Air Act, cross state air pollution, EPA, NOx, ozone, power plants, smog, sustainability
January 6, 2023

EPA Proposes Significant Change to Particulate Matter Air Quality Standards

On January 6, 2023, EPA announced that is was issuing a proposed rule to lower the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”) for fine particulate matter (“PM2.5”), also referred to as soot. Continue reading

Air

Air Quality, Allison A. Torrence, CAA, EPA, NAAQS, PM, PM2.5, Soot
March 23, 2022

U.S. EPA Releases “ECHO Notify” to Increase Public Awareness of Enforcement Related Information

On March 22, 2022, U.S. EPA released a new web tool designed to ensure that information regarding environmental violations and enforcement actions is more readily available to the public. The new tool, called ECHO Notify, allows users to sign up for weekly emails when new information is available with respect to violations of environmental statutes… Continue reading

Air, Climate Change, Contamination, Emerging Contaminants, RCRA, Sustainability, Water

CAA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Corporate Environmental Lawyer, CWA, ECHO Notify, environment, EPA, hazardous waste, Jenner & Block, RCRA, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, SDWA, Steven M. Siros, Water
February 9, 2022

Heightened Risk to the Regulated Community: U.S. EPA Overfiling

In what could portend significant risk to the regulated community, a recent “overfiling” by U.S. EPA in connection with a Clean Air Act (CAA) settlement between the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and a steel plant should at a minimum cause the regulated community to be cautious when entering into settlement agreements with state… Continue reading

Air, Climate Change, Toxic Tort

CAA, Clean Air Act, Corporate Environmental Lawyer, enforcement, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Jenner & Block, LDEQ, Notice of Violation, overfiling, Steven M. Siros, Title V, Tulane Environmental Law Clinic
April 7, 2021

Environmental Organizations Petition EPA to Expand Enforcement of Clean Air Act’s General Duty Clause

Various environmental organizations, led by the Environmental Integrity Project (“EIP”), are urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to expand enforcement of Section 112(r)(1) of the Clean Air Act (CAA)—commonly known as the General Duty Clause (“GDC”)—in order to more closely regulate the handling of hazardous substances at industrial facilities permitted under the CAA. Continue reading

Air, Hazmat, Sustainability

40 CFR part 68, accidental release, CAA, Clean Air Act, Corporate Environmental Lawyer Blog, EIP, Environmental Integrity Project, EPA, GDC, General Duty Clause, hazardous substance, Hazlehurst Wood Pellets, Matthew G. Lawson
March 19, 2021

EPA Finalizes Revised Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update: Emissions Reductions Required at Certain Power Plants Beginning in May

On March 15, 2021, EPA finalized the Revised Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (“CSAPR”) Update for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”). This final rule is issued pursuant to the “good neighbor provision” of the Clean Air Act and in response to the D.C. Circuit’s remand of the previous version of the CSAPR… Continue reading

Air, Sustainability

Allison A. Torrence, CAA, Clean Air Act, cross state air pollution, CSAPR, EPA, good neighbor provision, NAAQS, NOx, power plants
December 7, 2020

EPA Retains Existing Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

On December 7, 2020, EPA completed its five-year review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”) for Particulate Matter (“PM”), a criteria air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. In a final action set to be published in the Federal Register in the coming days, EPA decided to retain the current NAAQS for PM,… Continue reading

Air, COVID-19

Allison A. Torrence, biden, CAA, Clean Air Act, EPA, NAAQS, Particulate Matter, PM, PM10, PM2.5
February 12, 2019

BACT to the Future: Enviros Petition for Review on Natural Gas Power Plant Air Permit, Saying Batteries Are “BACT” Under the Clean Air Act

Last week, the Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental groups petitioned the Ninth Circuit for review of EPA Region 9’s decision in December 2018 to issue a final prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permit for the Palmdale Energy Project (Project), a gas-fired plant being developed in the city of Palmdale, CA. These environmental groups… Continue reading

Air, Climate Change, Sustainability

Air, Alexander J. Bandza, CAA, CERCLA, Climate Change, Corporate Environmental Lawyer, Critical Environmental, GHG, Hazmat, Health & Safety Developments, OSHA, RCRA, Sustainability, TSCA, Water
May 17, 2018

EPA Air Chief Supports Draft House Bill Revising CAA ‘Modification’ Definition

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) has introduced a discussion draft of a bill that proposes to revise the definition of “modification” in the Clean Air Act (CAA) to “clarify when a physical change in, or change in the method of operation of, a stationary source constitutes a modification or construction.” Continue reading

Air

Air, Allison A. Torrence, CAA, Clean Air Act, emissions, EPA, Griffith, Modification, NSR, Pallone, Wehrum