Clean Air Issues In The 111th Congress

Contents: (1) Intro.; (2) EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations; (3) Legislation on Climate Change: Legislative and Regulatory Issues; Cap-and-Trade; GHG Emission Standards; HFC Cap-and-Trade; Removal of Existing EPA Authorities; Agricultural Sources of Emissions; Internat. Offsets; Tariff Provisions; State Preemption; Experience with Other Cap-and-Trade Systems; (4) Emissions from Power Plants: Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR): N. Carolina v. EPA; Effects of the Decision; Judicial and Legislative Options; Clean Air Mercury Rule: Background; NJ v. EPA; Other Mercury Issues; Next Steps; New Source Review; (5) Air Quality Standards; Background; Judicial Reviews; Adequacy of Monitoring. Illus. This is a print on demand publication.

The remainder of the climate portion of this report discusses the House bill and the issues that have arisen in the course of its consideration, with occasional references to developments in the Senate. [...] Of these, only the two permit provisions (PSD-NSR, and Title V) have been invoked by EPA, and the agency has taken steps to limit their applicability.16 The other authorities seem, for the most part, ill-designed to address GHG emissions.17 Nevertheless, advocates of retaining the authorities have questioned the necessity of their removal. [...] Of particular concern to the latter group is the bill's delegation of authority over the offset program to the Department of Agriculture rather than to EPA. [...] Cost of the Bill Among the most important issues in the House debate was the prospective cost of the bill. [...] The author of that study, in letters to the House minority leader and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, stated that the study's conclusions had been misstated.23 At the other end of the spectrum, EPA estimated that the costs of the reported bill (prior to some of the final changes) would be $80 to $111 per family, annually,24 or as proponents have sometimes expressed.

Although air quality has improved substantially in the U.S. in the 40 years of the EPA's Clean Air Act regulation, many issues remain unresolved. Recently, members of Congress from both parties have raised questions regarding the cost-effectiveness of, and authority for, EPA actions. This report focuses on three areas of likely interest to the 112th Congress: greenhouse gas regulations, emissions from power plants (including interstate pollution and mercury emissions), and air quality standards. Contents: Intro.; EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations; Legislation on Climate Change; Emissions from Power Plants; Clean Air Interstate Rule; Clean Air Mercury Rule; Air Quality Standards; Other Issues. Illustrations. This is a print on demand report.

Provides a comprehensive introduction and essential guide to one of the most important institutions in medieval England and to its substantial archive. This is the first book to offer a detailed explanation of the form, structure and evolution of the manor and its records. Offers translations of, and commentaries upon, each category of document to illustrate their main features. Examples of each category of record are provided in translation, followed by shorter extracts selected to illustrate interesting, commonly occurring, or complex features. A valuable source of reference for undergraduates wishing to understand the sources which underpin the majority of research on the medieval economy and society.

As the 113th Congress has considered air quality issues, oversight of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory actions has been the main focus. Of particular interest has been EPA's Clean Air Act regulations on emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Reducing GHG emissions to address climate change is a major goal of President Obama, but Congress has been less enthusiastic about it. In the absence of congressional action, the President has directed EPA to promulgate GHG standards using existing authority under the Clean Air Act. This authority has been upheld on at least three occasions by the Supreme Court, but it remains controversial in Congress. EPA's most recent GHG actions have involved power plants. On June 2, 2014, the agency proposed GHG emission standards for existing fossil-fueled (coal, oil, and natural gas) power plants. These plants are the source of one-third of the nation's GHG emissions, so it is difficult to envision a regulatory scheme that reduces the nation's GHG emissions without addressing their contribution. At the same time, affordable and reliable electric power is central to the nation's economy and to the health and well-being of the population. Thus, the effects of the proposed rule on the electric power system are of considerable interest. Even before proposal of the existing power plant standards, the House had passed legislation (H.R. 3826) that would effectively prohibit EPA from promulgating or implementing power plant GHG emission standards. On September 18, 2014, the House passed the same language a second time, in H.R. 2. The Senate has not considered either bill, but it could still be asked to consider similar measures as amendments or riders on other legislation considered likely to pass in the lame duck session. Although it has not finalized the power plant GHG regulations, EPA has implemented permit and Best Available Control Technology requirements for new stationary sources of GHGs under a separate Clean Air Act provision, the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. Minimum thresholds have exempted smaller pollution sources from this program, and few facilities have needed to obtain permits. Nevertheless, EPA's authority to implement these requirements was challenged in court. In a June 23, 2014, decision, the Supreme Court largely upheld EPA's authority. Besides addressing climate change, EPA has taken action on a number of other air pollution regulations, often in response to court actions remanding previous rules. Remanded rules included the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and Clean Air Mercury Rule—rules designed to control the long-range transport of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury from power plants through cap-and-trade programs. Other remanded rules included hazardous air pollutant standards for boilers and cement kilns. The agency has also developed revisions of several existing air standards—in general, the Clean Air Act mandates that existing standards be reviewed periodically and revised if appropriate. On March 3, 2014, EPA revised regulations that limit the sulfur content of gasoline, in conjunction with tighter (“Tier3”) standards for motor vehicle emissions. The agency has also proposed revised standards for wood and pellet stoves and proposed standards for other types of wood heaters for the first time. EPA is also reviewing ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone. The agency is under court order to complete a proposed revision of the ozone NAAQS by December 1, 2014. NAAQS serve as EPA's definition of clean air for six widespread pollutants, and drive a range of regulatory controls.

Examines causes of air pollution in D.C. and government efforts to control area pollution. Also considers use of Kenilworth dump site and its alternatives. Includes Los Angeles County's regulations handbook "Air Pollution Control District Rules and Regulations," June 1, 1965 (p. 133-188) and report "Air Pollution Data for Los Angeles County," Jan. 1967 (p. 196-252).