Search Results for keywords:"Clean Air Act"

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas is considering a proposed Consent Decree and Settlement Agreement related to alleged Clean Air Act violations by Chesapeake Exploration LLC and Chesapeake Appalachia LLC. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims these companies violated air pollution standards at 159 natural gas facilities in Ohio. As part of the agreement, Chesapeake is expected to pay a $1.2 million penalty. Public comments on the settlement are accepted for thirty days and can be submitted via email or mail.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a plan from Pennsylvania to maintain air quality standards for ozone in Tioga County under the Clean Air Act. This plan shows how the area has maintained safe ozone levels and includes measures to ensure it continues through 2027. The EPA is asking for public comments by March 10, 2021, and will consider these before making a final decision. This action is part of efforts to manage and improve air quality to protect public health.

The Department of Justice has proposed a Consent Decree to settle claims against Hino Motors and its U.S. subsidiaries for violating the Clean Air Act by exceeding pollution limits. The agreement, lodged in a Michigan federal court, involves a $525 million penalty, a vehicle recall program, and pollution mitigation efforts. Part of the settlement also resolves related claims by California, which requires additional mitigation efforts specific to the state. The public can comment on this proposed settlement for 30 days following the notice's publication.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced final decisions on petitions challenging state operating permits for two power plants. The EPA Administrator denied petitions from the Sierra Club to object to the Clean Air Act title V operating permits for the Hunter Power Plant in Utah, and from Casey and Julie Voigt regarding the Coyote Station Power Plant in North Dakota. These decisions mean the EPA did not find enough reason to object to the permits despite claims about inadequate pollution controls and lack of compliance with federal standards. The EPA detailed its reasoning for these denials and directed a review of the Hunter Power Plant's 2020 permit.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a rule following a notification from Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality declared that no existing incinerators within the state are subject to certain federal emissions guidelines under the Clean Air Act for Other Solid Waste Incineration units. This declaration means Louisiana does not have to submit a plan for controlling these pollutants. The EPA intends to update its regulations to reflect this declaration, and public comments on this proposal are due by March 26, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving parts of a submission from Arkansas related to the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), ensuring the state meets clean air requirements. The EPA reviewed Arkansas's plans for maintaining air quality and found them adequate in personnel, funding, and legal authority, despite some public concerns about financial resources. The approval includes updates to state regulations and confirms Arkansas's plans are consistent with federal law. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was mentioned as a possible concern, the EPA decided it does not warrant disapproval of Arkansas's submission at this time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reversing its previous decision from November 2020 and reinstating Ohio's Air Nuisance Rule (ANR) into the State Implementation Plan (SIP). This change follows a ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit which highlighted errors in how the EPA handled the removal. The EPA has acknowledged that the ANR plays an important role in meeting clean air standards in Ohio and did not properly evaluate its significance in reducing pollution. This decision is meant to align with the Clean Air Act's goals of maintaining and enforcing national air quality standards.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve changes made by Delaware to its regulations on the Mobile Equipment Repair and Refinishing (MERR) rule. These changes align Delaware's rules with the Ozone Transport Commission's (OTC) updated standards for limiting volatile organic compounds (VOC) in vehicle refinishing products and methods. The updated rules aim to reduce VOC emissions, making Delaware's air quality management plan stronger and federally enforceable. Public comments on this proposal are invited before a final decision is made.

On January 29, 2021, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Stericycle, Inc. for allegedly violating the Clean Air Act by exceeding nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission limits from its medical waste incinerator in North Salt Lake, Utah. To resolve the lawsuit, Stericycle has agreed to a proposed consent decree, which includes paying a $600,000 fine and funding a project to replace old diesel school buses with cleaner models at a cost of about $2 million. Public comments on this proposed settlement are being accepted for 30 days following the notice's publication, and the consent decree is available for review on the Justice Department's website.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) from Louisiana that aims to meet the air quality standards set by the Clean Air Act. Submitted on November 4, 2020, the plan addresses requirements to reduce emissions that affect visibility and pollution in neighboring states, fulfilling a previous shortcoming related to Prong 4, which involves visibility transport rules. With the approval of Louisiana's regional haze plan, the EPA believes the state now satisfies the necessary provisions for various pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter (PM2.5). The plan ensures that Louisiana's measures align with federal air quality standards and do not interfere with the air quality efforts of other states.