There is a lot of hyperbole regarding President-Elect Trump’s potential environmental agenda. During the campaign there was also a lot made about issues of employment and opportunity in the "Rust Belt" (a term I personally do no like). Here are two suggestions of how the incoming Trump Administration could bring greater opportunity to the Rust
Power Plant Reductions- EPA Gets it Wrong….Again
On August 21st, the D.C. Circuit Court vacated U.S. EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) also known at the "Transport Rule." This is not the first time EPA has had its power plant pollution reduction rule vacated. The Transport Rule was the replacement to the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) which was also struck down…
U.S. EPA Proposes New P.M. 2.5 Federal Air Quality Standard
Under increasing pressure from the Courts, EPA announced on June 14th its proposed revision to the federal air quality standard for fine particles (microns less than 2.5). The last standard was 15 ug/m3 which was established in 1997. EPA is now proposing to lower the standard somewhere between 12 and 13 ug/m3.
Back in 2009, the Court…
Appeals Court Revokes Injunction Which Had Blocked Ohio EPA’s BAT Exemption for Small Air Pollution Sources
Back in 2006, the Ohio Legislature passed Senate Bill 265 which was hailed as the biggest change to air pollution control regulations in Ohio in several decades. The center piece of the legislation was an exemption for smaller sources of air pollution (10 tons per year or less) from having to comply with Ohio’s Best Available…
As Dust Settles After Ozone Announcement the States Emerge as the Big Winners
The Obama Administration had already delayed issuance of a revised ozone standard three times. EPA had said repeatedly that it would it would finally promulgate the new standard by this August. Then last week, President Obama shocked many by announcing that EPA would not issue a new ozone standard until 2013.
A Little History on Ozone
Under…
Ozone Standard Inconsistent with President’s Executive Order on Cost of Regulation
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…
State’s Face Huge Air Quality Workload During Budget Crisis
Many of the Midwest states, including Ohio, face significant state budget shortfalls- Ohio faces a projected $8 billion dollar hole in its next budget. With the shortfalls, is very unlikely additional revenue will be available to support existing programs.
The state budget crisis occurs at the same time U.S. EPA has been very active in revising federal air…
EPA Plays Politics By Delaying Ozone Rule
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.
Ostensibly 75 ppb remains on the table. However, U.S. EPA is likely to…
Three Years After Major Reforms- Ohio’s Air Permitting Process is Anything But Certain
Major uncertainty surrounds Ohio’s air permtting program. I use the term "certainty" because that was the buzz word utilized when business groups fought hard for major reforms that eventually were passed in Senate Bill 265 in 2006.
Back in 2006, business groups were concerned that Ohio’s system for issuing air permits was far more onerous and unpredictable than other…
EPA Announces Tighter Ozone Standard; Big Implications for Ohio
Today, U.S. EPA announced it has officially thrown out the .075 ppm ozone standard proposed in 2008 by the Bush Administration. The Bush proposal would have reduced the standard from .08 ppm to .075 ppm. Now the EPA is proposing to set a new revised ozone standard somewhere between .06 ppm to .07 ppm. This from the…