EPA on Thursday, July 7, 2011, finalized its plans for a revised interstate air pollution control rule. Meet the newest acronym to enter the environmental industry's lexicon: CSAPR, i.e. the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.

C'SAPPer?

Waitaminute: Casper!

Like the Tigers outfielder?


Towson Tiger Wire

Okay, like the ghost.

The rule replaces the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), a cap-and-trade Bush-era attempt to do the same thing, but which was struck down in court. The rule affects the 27 states East of the Mississippi, and will force counties to be in compliance with more stringent SO₂ and NO_X emissions. Power companies will be expected to install control technology. It is expected that for many this will trigger New Source Review provisions.



EPA chief Lisa P. Jackson noted that her goal is to make the transition as easy as possibly for utilities. "By maximizing flexibility and leveraging existing technology, the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will help ensure that American families aren't suffering the consequences of pollution generated far from home, while allowing states to decide how best to decrease dangerous air pollution in the most cost-effective way." EPA estimates for itself are about $800 million per year in federal and state oversight by 2014, and roughly $1.6 billion per year in capital investments.

Many power plants covered by the rule have already made substantial investments in clean air technologies under CAIR or due to other Clean Air Act regulations. The agency thus believes the rule will "level the playing field" for power plants that are already controlling these emissions by requiring more facilities to do the same.

The agency believes this and its other actions will cut as much as 73 percent of 2005 SO₂ emissions and 54 percent of NO_X. EPA said the new interstate rule will protect 240 million Americans from smog and soot pollution, with tens of thousands saved from death, heart attack, bronchitis, asthma and sick days.

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule replaces and strengthens the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ordered EPA to revise in 2008. The court allowed CAIR to remain in place temporarily while EPA worked to finalize today's replacement rule.

The agency is also proposing to require sources in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin to reduce NO_X emissions during the summertime ozone season. The proposal would increase the total number of states covered by the rule from 27 to 28. Five of these six states are covered for other pollutants under the rule. The proposal is open for public review and comment for 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.

The agency has also established a  website for the rule.