February 2011

This week U.S. EPA finalized its long awaited rule making establishing air emission standards for industrial and commercial boilers.  The standards are to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) by requiring sources to install or meet of Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT).

Controversial Rulemaking Process Comes to an End

EPA proposed MACT standards in spring of 2010 which were

Rumors had been swirling that there would possibly be a merger between Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) in an effort to consolidate programs and reduce staff.  Such a proposal was debated in the prior Ohio Legislature as part of larger plan to reduce the total number of State Agencies.  Its possible that

LexisNexis Environmental Law & Climate Change Community is honoring a select group of blogs that set the online standard for our practice area. I’m pleased to notify you that Ohio Environmenal Law Blog is one of the nominated candidates for the LexisNexis Top 50 Environmental Law & Climate Change Blogs for 2011. http://www.lexisnexis.com/COMMUNITY/ENVIRONMENTAL-CLIMATECHANGELAW/blogs/topblogs/archive/2011/01/24/LexisNexis-Top-50-Blogs-for-Environmental-Law-_2600_-Climate-Change-2011-Nominations.aspx.

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Back in 2007, U.S. EPA was sued by some States and environmental groups who challenged the legitimacy of the ozone standard -75 parts per billion (ppb)- selected by the Bush Administration.  In 2009, the Obama Administration announced that it was reconsidering the 75 ppb standard.

U.S. EPA is likely to revise the standard to somewhere between 60 ppb