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EPA Orders States To Fix Loopholes for Excessive Emissions Events
Case Updates:
February 15, 2013
On February 15, EPA granted Sierra Club’s request to have 36 states fix provisions in their air quality plans allowing exemptions for emissions during startup, shutdown and malfunction (SSM) events.
The proposed rule granting the petition will address outdated requirements, improve national consistency and provide clarity for emissions during SSM.
Sierra Club and WildEarth Guardians first petitioned EPA in June 2011 to find that the SSM provisions violated the air law. The SSM provisions allowed unchecked increases in pollution even for events that should be controlled and allowed facilities to avoid punishment for violating emissions limits.
The states that must revise their SIPs are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Details and Documents:
EPA Orders States To End 'Upset' Emission Provisions In Air Quality PlansFebruary 15, 2013,
Inside EPA
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