EPA S02 Attainment Guidance Uses Contested Focus On Modeling Data

摘要

EPA has quietly issued guidance saying that states should use a combination of emissions monitoring and modeling to determine whether they are in attainment or nonattainment with the agency's strict sulfur dioxide (SO2) air standard, even as states and industry say that relying on modeling could overestimate nonattainment problems. The guidance dated March 24 comes as critics of the agency's reliance on modeling in designating attainment areas for the SO2 standard are pursuing various legal challenges against EPA. An existing lawsuit challenges the SO2 standard, with a key argument being the reliance on modeling to determine attainment areas. Industry is also suing over EPA's recent decision to deny an administrative petition asking the agency to reconsider the standard. The guidance is available on InsideEPA.com. Seepage 2 for details.