EPA STANCE ON AIR PERMIT TO TEST OBAMA POLICY ON NSR EMISSIONS TEST

摘要

EPA's pending response to environmentalists' petition challenging a power plant air permit will provide an early test for the Obama administration's position on the key issue of what method utilities should use to calculate their emissions to determine whether facility upgrades trigger new source review (NSR) requirements.rnEPA will respond by May 29 to a 2007 petition from the Sierra Club that objects to a Title V operating permit for Wisconsin Electric Power Company's (WEPCO) Oak Creek power plant, according to a recently proposed consent decree. The petition alleges that the facility failed to follow the proper procedure for comparing emissions before and after a modification in determining whether NSR applies, among other issues. Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details.rnAn industry source downplays EPA's pending decision, saying the decree is likely to be dropped because WEPCO is applying for a new permit. But an activist disagrees and says the response will be highly relevant as the pending new permit application contains only slight revisions from the original.rnNSR applies in areas out of attainment with EPA air standards, while prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) applies to areas in attainment. NSR and PSD require companies to calculate whether their emissions will increase by a "significant" amount due to a facility upgrade or modification, and if the emissions trigger NSR/PSD it can result in a requirement to install expensive controls to reduce air pollution.