A new report regarding fine particulate pollution in the Midwest shows that achieving compliance with federal air quality standards is linked to U.S. EPA’s fix for the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). The Lake Michigan Air Director’s Consortium (LADCO) released its white paper discussing recommendation on addressing fine particulate (p.m. 2.5) pollution in the Midwest. The white paper
U.S. EPA’s Proposal to Extend Costly Shipping Regulations to the Great Lakes Raises Questions
In March of this year Canada and the United States submitted a bi-national proposal to reduce emissions from ships at ports. The proposal marked the culmination of years of study of the costs and benefits of requiring emission reductions from ocean going vessels. However, the proposal never mentions the Great Lakes and includes no analysis of the costs or
Grim News Follows Good News For Northeast Ohio on Ozone
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The Obama Administration announced it would review the revised ozone standard of .75 ppb that was previously established by the Bush Administration. The Obama Administration has said if they decide to revise the ozone standard below .75 ppb they will announce it by December of 2009 and finalize the standard by August 2010.
As reported
Ohio BAT- Changes to State Air Pollution Control Strategy Prove Daunting
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Back in 2006, while I was still at Ohio EPA, a major piece of state legislation worked its way through the General Assembly. Senate Bill 265 was developed by business groups in Ohio to address concerns with the structure and implementation of Ohio air pollution permitting programs. The main target to be fixed was the
What U.S. EPA’s Formal Recognition of Cleveland’s Improved Air Quality Means for Businesses
Yesterday, U.S. EPA announced a proposed rulemaking to formally recognize Cleveland and nearby counties as achieving the 1997 8-hour ozone standard (.085ppb). As discussed in a previous post, this is very good news for Northeast Ohio businesses in any of the following counties: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit. U.S. EPA is taking comments
Remedy in Cinergy NSR Case Forces Shut Down of Units
As an indication the New Source Review (NSR) enforcement actions are alive and well, today an Indiana federal court has ordered the shut down of units that triggered NSR and failed to install controls. In addition, the Court required Cinergy to surrender allowances to compensate for "irreparable harm" caused by the operation of the units in violation
Ohio Announces Second Round of Diesel Grants
On May 26th, the Ohio Department of Development announced the recipients of the second round of the Diesel Emission Reduction Grant (DERG) program. The announcement once again highlights issues with implementation of this grant program.
After two grant rounds, school buses, transit and rail received the lion share of the total $19.8 million in available
Stimulus Funding for Diesel through U.S. EPA’s DERA Program; Update On Ohio’s DERG Program
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The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) contains the highest federal funding yet for the 5 r’s of diesel- retrofits, replacements, repowers, replace and refuel. The competitive announcements for the ARRA Funding for National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program became available on March 20, 2009. Better get your act together if you still want an application
In a Major Reversal, Obama Administration Restarts NSR Enforcement Initiative
In a dramatic reversal from the Bush Administration, the Department of Justice and U.S. EPA are renewing their New Source Review enforcement efforts against coal-fired power plants. The NSR lawsuits originally commenced during the Clinton years have resulted in billions of dollars in new controls and hundreds of millions in civil penalties.
The industry had breathed a sigh
Court Rejects EPA’s Fine Particle Standard
In National Farm Bureau Federation v. EPA, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has granted environmental group petition for review of the NAAQS for fine particle pollution known as PM 2.5. Environmental groups and industry groups both challenged portions of EPA’s standard. The EPA had decided to maintain the annual standard at 15 μg/m3. The Court