Advocates Criticize EPA Use Of 'Surrogates' In Air Toxics 'Completion' Rule

摘要

Environmentalists are criticizing as unlawful EPA's use of "surrogate" air pollutants to satisfy a Clean Air Act mandate that the agency regulate air toxics from sources representing 90 percent of emissions of seven hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), saying EPA is erroneously relying on limits for other HAPs to satisfy the mandate. In a March 28 opening brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Sierra Club and other advocates challenge the agency's June 3 finding that it has met the 90 percent air toxics "completion" requirement. Sierra Club in its comments on the earlier proposed version of the finding said EPA cannot lawfully rely on surrogates, and must instead issue regulations aimed specifically at the seven listed HAPs.