EPA Moves Looming Deadline for Decision On Maryland Utility Emissions Petition

摘要

The EPA is using flexibility built into the Clean Air Act to delay a looming deadline for the agency to decide whether to grant a request by Maryland to further control power plant emissions. While the EPA issued a 2016 update to its Cross-State Air Pollution rule to control utility sector emissions, Maryland said in a November petition that more must be done to help the state come into compliance with the 2008 ozone standards of 75 parts per billion. Maryland's petition, filed under Section 126 of the Clean Air Act, asked the EPA to require 36 power plants in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to either operate more efficiently or utilize already-installed pollution controls during the summer months, when ground-level ozone concentrations are elevated.