We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. Learn more here.Close Me
Earlier this week,
I noted that EPA had announced that it was reconsidering
parts of the Utility MACT rule and staying its effectiveness for
three months. Yesterday, EPA announced that it was delaying for 11
months final promulgation of its cooling water intake structure
rule for existing facilities under the Clean Water Act.
Reaction was predictable. Reed Super,
plaintiffs' attorney was "disappointed," but clearly
resigned. Senator Inhofe characterized the delay as:
President Obama's decision to punt on yet another
job-killing EPA regulation before the election.
Of course, short of committing collective seppuku, there is little that EPA could do to
satisfy Senator Inhofe.
I find it more difficult to speculate on this than on the
mercury rule. The science behind concerns about mercury is
more compelling and the treatment options are
well-defined. For CWIS, on the other hand, site-specific
considerations are important and it is not at all obvious that
requiring closed cycle cooling at existing facilities would be
cost-effective.
Either way, we'll see in 11 months – unless there
is another delay.
To view Foley Hoag's Law and the Environment Blog
please click
here
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
To print this article, all you need is to be registered on Mondaq.com.
Click to Login as an existing user or Register so you can print this article.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has published a proposed rule entitled Response to Petition for Rulemaking; Findings of Substantial Inadequacy; and SIP Calls to Amend Provisions Applying to Excess Emissions During Periods of Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction.
Last week, the European Parliament rejected a proposal to reduce the quantity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions allowances in order to fix a supply-demand imbalance in the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
It may be time for our federal courts to rethink their reluctance to accept major environmental claims that the courts of other countries are simply not yet able to handle.
After being taken to task by states and its own Inspector General for lack of final guidance on Vapor Intrusion, EPA has just released draft guidance documents for hazardous substances and petroleum products for comment.
California's cap-and-trade program mandates that certain covered entities acquire allowances for each metric ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) they emit during specified compliance periods.
Last Friday, EPA announced release of its draft proposal to revise the effluent guidelines and standards for the steam electric power generating industry, last revised in 1982.
On April 19, 2013, EPA released the proposed "Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category" (Steam Electric ELG). The proposed Steam Electric ELG would revise the existing technology-based effluent limitations guidelines [40 CFR 423] for most steam electric power plants and their discharges to U.S. waters or POTWs.
In a decision that should not have come as a surprise to anyone, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday, in "Conservation Northwest v. Sherman", that the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies implementing the Northwest Forest Plan could not amend the NFP.
