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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary federal agency responsible for safeguarding the environment and protecting human health from pollution. Since 1970, the agency has used three guiding principles to govern its work: results and accountability: innovation and collaboration; and best available science. Each year, the agency publishes its Regulatory Plan, most recently on Dec. 10, 2007 (Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 236, pp. 69922-69956).
What is the EPA doing about air quality?
The EPAs Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) continues to assess new scientific information supporting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In July 2007, the EPA proposed a rule revising the existing NAAQS for ozone and will publish a final rule early in 2008. A regulation addressing standards for lead particulate is also underway.
Toxic air pollutants are also on the EPAs radar. The Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) program is now in its second phase - the EPA is evaluating the effectiveness of the work already completed, as well as assessing advances in control technology and the need for additional controls. In this phase, the EPA will combine the remaining MACT source categories requiring residual risk and technology reviews into several groups to meet statutory requirement dates, raise and resolve program issues more effectively, minimize resources by using available data and focusing on high-risk sources, and provide consistent review and analysis. New rules are being written for 21 source categories, including oil and natural gas production, and production of polymers and resins.
The EPA is attempting to improve the New Source Review (NSR) permitting program as well. The challenge here is to clarify the circumstances under which companies must obtain construction permits before building new facilities or before significantly modifying existing facilities.
Congress established the NSR program as part of the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments. This preconstruction permitting program serves two purposes. First, it ensures that air quality is not significantly degraded by the addition of new or modified plants. In areas with unhealthy air. NSR ensures that new emissions do not slow progress toward cleaner air. In areas with clean air, especially pristine areas like national parks, NSR ensures that new emissions do not significantly worsen air quality. Second. NSR requires any large new or modified...