You Can Avoid Substantial Costs Through PSD Netting

摘要

The most basic goals of the Clean Air Act (CAA) are to define "clean air" standards, to keep clean areas in attainment with those standards, and to improve the air in nonattain-ment (non-clean-air) areas. To accomplish this, the CAA sets up rather complicated programs and rules to regulate air pollution emissions from industry and utilities. One such regulation, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD), includes provisions for netting. PSD netting involves crediting reductions in pollution against new emissions that can be a powerful method to expand or modify an existing facility without triggering expensive add-on control devices or long permitting delays. Successful netting in PSD permitting is well worth the confusion, effort, and headache caused by the netting exercise.