{
  "id": "RL32927",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL32927",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 305824,
      "date": "2005-05-20",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:44:35.356029",
      "title": "Clean Air Interstate Rule: Review and Analysis",
      "summary": "On March 10, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule to address\nthe\neffects of interstate transport of air pollutants on nonattainment of the National Ambient Air Quality\nStandards (NAAQS) for fine particulates (PM2.5) and ozone (specifically, the 8-hour standard). The\nClean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) was first proposed as the Interstate Air Quality (IAQ) rule and\nappeared in the  Federal Register  January 30, 2004. For PM2.5, CAIR finds that the\ninterstate\ntransport of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from 23 states and the District of\nColumbia contributes significantly to downwind nonattainment; for ozone, CAIR finds that interstate\ntransport of NOx from 25 states and the District of Columbia contributes significantly to downwind\nnonattainment of the 8-hour standard. This result differs some from the proposed rule because of\nimproved modeling. \n EPA decided in CAIR to create three emissions caps: Two are annual emissions caps that\naddress the interstate contribution of SO2 and NOx to PM2.5 nonattainment; the third cap is a\nseasonal\ncap to address interstate contribution of NOx to ozone nonattainment. The three caps are\nimplemented in two phases: Phase 1 begins in 2009 for the NOx caps and 2010 for the SO2 cap.\nImproved modeling and other considerations resulted in some changes in the final rule from the\nproposed IAQ. For example, in CAIR, EPA added a fuel-type adjustment factor to the NOx\nallocation formula that provides significantly more NOx allowances to states that have coal-fired\nelectric generation compared with those with natural gas-fired generation.\n Although changes to the proposed rule may be important in specific cases, they do not represent\na major shift in the thrust and scope of CAIR. That CAIR has not had the visibility of the\ncontemporaneous mercury (Hg) rule should not be interpreted to mean that the underlying issue of\nPM2.5 and 8-hour ozone compliance has been solved. EPA is currently reviewing the stringency of\nthe PM2.5 NAAQS, a process that may result in a more stringent standard. Given CAIR's lengthy\nschedule, it seems likely that if the PM2.5 NAAQS is strengthened, efforts to revise CAIR would\noccur.\n Likewise, CAIR does not address the most potent environmental issue surrounding\nfossil-fuel-fired electric generating facilities -- global warming and the possibility of carbon dioxide\nreductions. Movement on that issue over the next decade could result in a modification of CAIR,\nor a new multi-pollutant control regime. Bills have been introduced in Congress to create such a\nsystem.\n Finally, CAIR raises questions about the future of the Bush Administration's legislative\ninitiative -- Clear Skies. Clear Skies represents a complete rewrite of Title IV of the Clean Air Act\n(CAA) and would impose a comprehensive cap-and-trade system on utility SO2, NOx, and Hg\nemissions. In addition, Clear Skies would alter, delete, or hold in abeyance for some time existing\nsections of the CAA with respect to affected electric facilities and industrial sources that chose to\nopt into the program. With the promulgation of CAIR that achieves NOx and SO2 emissions\nreductions from most of the country's electricity generating facilities, and of the final Hg rule, it is\nunclear what impetus remains for Clear Skies. This report will not be updated.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "encoding": "utf-8",
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL32927",
          "sha1": "9f2fe34599fab186a0ad00523dfa8fd8625168fd",
          "filename": "files/20050520_RL32927_9f2fe34599fab186a0ad00523dfa8fd8625168fd.html",
          "images": null
        },
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "encoding": null,
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL32927",
          "sha1": "1f834e29a20be648b53a301c76ef337e55d1cac7",
          "filename": "files/20050520_RL32927_1f834e29a20be648b53a301c76ef337e55d1cac7.pdf",
          "images": null
        }
      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": []
}