Air

5th Circuit Judges Weigh Legal Bid To Overhaul EPA NAAQS Designations

Appellate judges at oral argument weighed Texas’ novel lawsuit that aims to upend EPA’s long-established process for designating which areas are attaining or failing to attain national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), with Texas pushing an unusual Clean Air Act argument that would give states more power to issue the findings.

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EPA vows to meet Nov. 30 deadline for final 2020 RFS

An EPA air official is downplaying the potential that the Trump administration’s plans to boost biofuels targets in the final 2020 renewable fuel standard will delay release of the rule beyond Nov. 30.

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EPA sends final NSR ‘adjacency’ guidance for OMB review

EPA’s final guidance will likely enable industry sources to more easily avoid tougher Clean Air Act permit conditions, based on the details of a 2018 draft version of the document.

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Former CASAC Panelists Say Fast NAAQS Review ‘Puts Cart Before Horse’

Former members of EPA’s disbanded Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) expert particulate matter panel are warning the agency that its accelerated process for reviewing ambient air limits “puts the cart before the horse” by requiring staff to suggest policy decisions on the standards before resolving major scientific questions.

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California fights EPA’s SIP threat by putting onus on agency

California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols charges EPA has failed to process numerous state implementation plans, or approve vital new federal air rules for mobile sources.

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California-EPA Spat Over Vehicle GHG Rules Explodes Into Major Fight

Tensions between California and the Trump administration over auto greenhouse gas rules that simmered for more than a year have exploded into an all-out legal and policy fight, with the two sides ramping up their attacks including EPA’s threats to revoke the state’s delegated water law authorities and yank federal highway funds.

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Venue, Other Fights Could Set Pace Of California Vehicle Program Battle

The speed of litigation over the Trump administration’s revocation of California’s vehicle greenhouse gas authority will depend on several factors, including disputes over the proper court venue for the case, potential government requests to expedite proceedings and the unknown effect of related auto GHG litigation, experts say.

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EPA Rejects Claim Of California ZEV Rules Offering Air Quality Benefit

The Trump administration, as part of its final revocation of California’s authority for its vehicle greenhouse gas and zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) programs, is rejecting claims from the programs’ supporters that the ZEV rules in particular improve local air quality, citing the state’s declarations appearing to downplay the rules’ benefits.

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EPA Undoing California Vehicle Power May Bolster Suit On GHG Finding

Environmentalists are citing language in EPA’s rule undoing California’s authority to set stricter vehicle greenhouse gas limits to boost their lawsuit over the Trump administration’s 2018 finding calling for weaker federal vehicle GHG rules, claiming the language aids their claim that the finding is a “final” action subject to court review.

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Midwestern governors ask Trump for more steps to boost biofuel sales

The Governors’ Biofuels Coalition, representing 22 states, says President Donald Trump’s planned boost for biofuels does not go far enough and is seeking additional steps to promote the fuels.

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