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Cleaning Up Power Plants & Big Polluters

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Cleaning Up Power Plants & Big Polluters

The Clean Air Act has been the law of the land for over 40 years, with a proven track record of success in cost-effectively cutting dangerous pollution to protect our health and environment and spurring American innovation. It’s past time to clean up our nation’s dirtiest sources of pollution, and it is critical the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue to implement the Clean Air Act, one of the nation’s most effective public health protection laws.

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Government studies show that the health benefits of the Clean Air Act exceed its costs by a 40-to-1 ratio. It is essential that the Obama Administration use the tools it currently possesses to protect public health and the environment from the devastating impact of climate change. The Clean Air Act is a appropriate law to address just the kind of emerging public health threat presented by global warming. Fortunately, after years of delay under the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration is moving forward to enforce the Clean Air Act and cut global warming emissions and toxic pollution from some of the nation’s largest sources, including large power plants and other big polluters.

Scroll down to see current rulemakings that are under way to achieve reductions in dangerous pollution:
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Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards - NEW PAGE

The Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward to reduce carbon pollution from fossil fuel power plants and oil refineries, which produce nearly 40 percent of the greenhouse gas pollution in the United States. Click here, to find out more.

 

Natural Gas Well Picture"Fracking" Air Pollution Standards

The EPA has recently finalized updated standards to reduce air pollution from the production, storage, and transmission of oil and natural gas. As proposed last year (2011), the rules would greatly reduce emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to the formation of smog, from wells that are hydraulically fractured. The rule would also reduce emissions of air toxics and of methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. (CC photo credit: flickr/pennstatelive.)

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boilersmall.jpgAir Toxics Standards (Brick, Cement, Boilers, Power Plants)

The Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) is taking common sense steps to update air toxics standards for polluting industrial sources including power plants, boilers, brick kilns and cement kilns. These updated air quality standards (also referred to as MACT—Maximum Available Control Technology) for life-threatening hazardous air pollution such as mercury and arsenic save lives, prevent disease and avoid hospitalizations, while creating new jobs installing air pollution control equipment.

In the 40 years since Americans demanded its creation, the EPA has saved millions of lives by enforcing clean air and water standards. More than 1.7 million asthma attacks and $110 billion in healthcare costs were avoided in 2010 alone thanks to the agency’s efforts. It is critical that EPA move forward in a timely matter to clean up these polluting industries. Strong air toxics safeguards will protect American families from life-threatening air pollution and help clean up our air and water. Below you will find a compilation of materials on all four of these standards.Fact Sheets

Fact Sheets

 


CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, MD, ME, MI, MO,MT, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WA, WV

 

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  • Clean Air Promise Comes To Holyoke

Clean Air Promise comes to Holyoke: wwlp.com

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Air PollutionCross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR)

On July 6, 2011, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that protects the health of millions of Americans by helping states reduce air pollution and attain clean air standards. EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) will require big reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from power plants, mainly in the eastern half of the U.S. This rule will help protect states and communities from the pollution created by power plants upwind of them. EPA estimated that the rule as proposed would in 2014 prevent 14,000-36,000 premature deaths, 240,000 cases of aggravated asthma and 1.9 million missed school or work days.

Opponents filed lawsuits challenging the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, and on December 30, 2011, a federal court placed a hold on the rule, preventing its implementation while the court reviews the legal challenges.

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coalash.jpgCoal Ash Standards under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Coal ash is the byproduct of burning coal and contains high concentration of toxic heavy metals. It is stored in ponds and landfills that threaten surrounding communities with drinking water contamination and serious health risks. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed two options: federally enforceable safeguards under RCRA subtitle C, or state “guidelines” under subtitle D. Federally enforceable safeguards are much more protective of public health.

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Ozonesmall.jpgOzone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Ozone is one of the primary pollutants that make up smog causing unsafe air quality days in warm weather. Exposure to smog triggers asthma attacks, causes permanent lung damage and can even lead to premature death. In fact, according the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 5,000 asthma-related deaths occur each year in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency should adopt the most protective standards to reduce harmful ozone. On September 2, 2011 the White House announced that the ozone standard will be delayed, this time until 2013.

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Clean Air Advocates Welcome White House Stance on EPA Climate Standards, Letter to White House 6.23.11

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CAA Digest

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The Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Click here for past issues.

 
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