East Coast States Warn EPA's CSAPR 'Closeout' Is Unlawful, Inadequate

摘要

East Coast states are warning EPA against finalizing its proposed finding that its Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) emissions trading program fully satisfies Clean Air Act requirements to curb interstate ozone pollution, telling the agency the proposal is based on faulty and unlawful assumptions about the problems of ozone transport.At an Aug. 1 public hearing on the issue hosted by EPA in Washington, D.C., officials from New York, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland denounced the proposal, along with the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC), which represents air regulators from 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.EPA's June 29 proposed determination finds that the Obama-era CSAPR will enable 20 states covered by the existing trading program to meet the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) of 75 parts per billion (ppb) by 2023. This absolves the states from the duty to submit further state implementation plans (SIPs) to address pollution transport issues related to the 2008 standard. Further, EPA would have no obligation to establish additional control requirements for sources in these states.