EPA-Approved Revisions to State Implementation Plans Allowing Increased Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Were Legal

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval of state actions to allow increased levels of sulfur dioxide emissions; (2) the impact of such revisions on future economic growth; and (3) the legal basis for these increases. GAO found that, from 1981 to 1983, EPA approved 114 revisions to state implementation plans involving sulfur dioxide, 58 of which permitted increased emissions. These revisions allowed a net increase of 1.5 million tons of sulfur dioxide emissions during that period. The GAO review of 18 state plan revisions showed that increased sulfur dioxide emissions could reduce the recreational value of land and waterways, increase building maintenance costs, and increase health care expenses. After a state's adoption and submission to EPA of a state plan revision, EPA approval is mandatory and the revision must meet Clean Air Act criteria. However, states are allowed to attach conditions to their state plan revisions. GAO found that: (1) for the 18 state plan revisions it reviewed, EPA and the states followed the act's key requirements; (2) EPA could improve the techniques it uses in making approval decisions; (3) mathematical models are needed that can better project the interstate impacts of sulfur dioxide emissions and the impact of those emissions on certain types of terrain; and (4) some states calculated compliance with the emission standards by a method that was not approved by EPA. EPA, however, has ongoing research to find methods of correcting these problems.

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Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan Revisions - Air Pollution Control Rules (US Environmental Protection Agency Regulation) (EPA) (2018 Edition) The Law Library presents the complete text of the Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan Revisions - Air Pollution Control Rules (US Environmental Protection Agency Regulation) (EPA) (2018 Edition). Updated as of May 29, 2018 The Environmental Protection Agency is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of North Dakota on April 6, 2009. Specifically, EPA is approving revisions to the North Dakota air pollution control rules regarding prevention of significant deterioration of air quality, and partially approving the SIP revision "Interstate Transport of Air Pollution" addressing the requirements of Clean Air Act section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) for the 1997 PM 2.5 and 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These revisions, referred to as the Interstate Transport of Air Pollution SIP, address the requirements of Clean Air Act section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) for the 1997 8-hour ozone and 1997 PM 2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In this action, EPA is approving the North Dakota Interstate Transport SIP provisions that address the requirement of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) that emissions from the state's sources do not "contribute significantly" to nonattainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS and the 1997 PM 2.5 NAAQS in any other state. In addition, EPA is approving the provisions of this SIP that address the requirement of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) that emissions from the state's sources do not interfere with measures required in the SIP of any other state under part C of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to prevent "significant deterioration of air quality." EPA will act at a later date on the North Dakota Interstate Transport SIP provisions that address the remaining two requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i), that emissions from the state's sources do not "interfere with maintenance" of the 1997 8-hour ozone and 1997 PM 2.5 NAAQS in any other state, and do not interfere with measures required in the SIP of any other state to "protect visibility." This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act. This book contains: - The complete text of the Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan Revisions - Air Pollution Control Rules (US Environmental Protection Agency Regulation) (EPA) (2018 Edition) - A table of contents with the page number of each section

NM064.29 Air Quality State Implementation Plans - Approval and Promulgation - New Mexico - Regional Haze and Interstate Transport Affecting Visibility (US Environmental Protection Agency Regulation) (EPA) (2018 Edition) The Law Library presents the complete text of the NM064.29 Air Quality State Implementation Plans - Approval and Promulgation - New Mexico - Regional Haze and Interstate Transport Affecting Visibility (US Environmental Protection Agency Regulation) (EPA) (2018 Edition). Updated as of May 29, 2018 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to approve a revision to the New Mexico Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) that addresses the Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) requirement for oxides of nitrogen (NO X) for the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) San Juan Generating Station (SJGS) in San Juan County, New Mexico. EPA is also taking final action under the CAA to approve a revision to the New Mexico Visibility Transport SIP that addresses the CAA requirement that emissions from sources in New Mexico do not interfere with programs in other states to protect visibility. The SIP meets this requirement through emission limitations for NO X and sulfur dioxide (SO 2) at SJGS. This book contains: - The complete text of the NM064.29 Air Quality State Implementation Plans - Approval and Promulgation - New Mexico - Regional Haze and Interstate Transport Affecting Visibility (US Environmental Protection Agency Regulation) (EPA) (2018 Edition) - A table of contents with the page number of each section