Air News Release: (1) EPA To Grant Additional Comment Time on the Clean Air Interstate Rule
News Briefs If you need more information on any of these subjects, call the listed Press Officer. For Release: (Washington, D.C. -- Wednesday, November 23, 2005) (1) EPA To Grant Additional Comment Time on the Clean Air Interstate Rule (2) Public Comment Period Extended on Proposal to Help States Meet Fine Particle Standards; Public Hearing Nov. 30 (1) EPA To Grant Additional Comment Time on the Clean Air Interstate Rule Contact: John Millett, 202-564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov [ mailto:millett.john@epa.gov ] EPA is granting the public additional time to comment on certain aspects of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). CAIR requires 28 States and the District of Columbia to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from power plants. Today's action will not delay implementation of the rule, which will achieve the largest reduction in air pollution in more than a decade. EPA issued the final CAIR on March 10, 2005. EPA has received 11 requests from states, environmental groups and power companies to reconsider certain parts of the final CAIR rule. The agency is confident that the rule's basis is sound, however, it has agreed to provide an additional opportunity for public comment on the following four issues: 1. analysis done by EPA to address claims regarding alleged inequities resulting from the method used to allocate SO2 emissions allowances to sources for those states that participate in EPA's trading program; 2. the method used to establish state NOx allocation budgets, specifically the use of fuel adjustment factors; 3. certain parts of the modeling EPA used to determine whether Minnesota's PM2.5 emissions require inclusion in the CAIR region; and 4. EPA's determination that Florida should be included in the CAIR region for ozone. EPA will hold a public hearing on these four issues on Dec. 14, 2005 in Washington, D.C. and will continue to accept public comments until Jan. 13, 2006. EPA expects to take final action on these issues by March 15, 2006. Information related to CAIR and this notice of reconsideration is available at: http://www.epa.gov/cair/rule.html [ http://www.epa.gov/cair/rule.html ] (2) Public Comment Period Extended on Proposal to Help States Meet Fine Particle Standards; Public Hearing Nov. 30 Contact: John Millett, 202-564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov [ mailto:millett.john@epa.gov ] EPA is extending until Jan. 31, 2006 the public comment period on the agency's proposed rule outlining steps that state, local and tribal governments must take to reduce fine particle pollution (PM2.5) in areas that do not meet EPA's health-based air quality standards. The proposed rule, known as the PM2.5 Implementation Rule, describes the planning framework and requirements for state, local and tribal governments to consider when developing their plans to reduce air pollution to meet the PM2.5 standards. Areas meeting the standard must show how they will ensure that PM2.5 levels remain below the standards. EPA will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Capitol Hilton, 1001 16th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. For information on the proposed rule and the public hearing, visit: http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations [ http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations ] R260 View all news releases related to air issues [ http://service.govdelivery.com/service/edition.html?code=USAEPA_16&format=Web&email_type=bulletin ] You can update or cancel your subscription at any time [ https://www.govdocs.com/service/user.html?code=USAEPA ]. You need only your e-mail address (and your password if you have selected one). This service is provided free of charge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you have any questions or problems about this service, please contact help@govdelivery.com [ mailto:help@govdelivery.com ] for assistance.