Environmental AIR QUALITY Letter: December 2017

Welcome to the AIR QUALITY Letter, a periodic review and update of regulatory changes affecting air quality sources. 

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IN THIS ISSUE:

EPA UPDATE

Senate Confirms Top EPA Positions
With the confirmation of these two top positions, it is more likely that the administration can advance its environmental agenda

EPA Ends “Sue and Settle” Litigation Strategy
Environmentalists Challenge Gallia County SO₂ Designation

PERMITTING

EPA Reverses Position on Review of PSD Issues Through the Title V Permitting Process
Order denied a petition by Sierra Club requesting that EPA object to the issuance of a Title V operating permit to the Hunter Power Plant in Castle Dale, Utah

STATE UPDATES

Kentucky Air Law Update
Kentucky regulatory amendments and federal updates

Ohio Air Law Update
Environmentalists Challenge Gallia County SO₂ Designation

NAAQS

EPA Issues 2015 Ozone NAAQS Designations
In November, EPA concluded that 2,646 counties, out of more than 3,100 counties in the United States, are in attainment with the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Clean Power Plan Update
EPA continues to make progress in its effort to repeal and replace the Clean Power Plan (CPP)

ENFORCEMENT

EPA Reverses Position on NSR Enforcement
On December 7, 2017, EPA Administrator Pruitt issued a memorandum to regional administrators clarifying EPA’s current understanding regarding certain elements of the NSR regulations and communicating the intended application and enforcement of the NSR applicability provisions reversing the longstanding EPA approach