EPA Strengthens Key Power Plant Rule to Reduce Smog this Summer and Improve Air Quality for Millions of Americans
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is finalizing revisions to the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) Update
to help areas affected by pollution emitted by power plants in other
states meet the 2008 national ambient air quality standards
(NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, commonly referred to
as smog. Starting this summer, power plants in 12 states will be
required to cut smog-forming emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) that
contribute to unhealthy air quality in communities downwind by installing,
improving or upgrading pollution controls. Exposure to ground-level ozone
can cause respiratory issues, aggravate asthma and other lung
diseases and lead to missed days of work or school, emergency room
visits and premature deaths.
“EPA plays a critical role by working with states and the power sector to
prevent pollution released in one state from harming the health and air quality
of its neighbors,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “The
action we are taking today will not only help states meet their clean air
obligations, but, more importantly, deliver cleaner, healthier air to millions
of Americans starting this summer.”
EPA estimates that the Revised CSAPR Update will reduce NOx emissions from
power plants in 12 states in the eastern United States by 17,000
tons beginning in 2021 compared to projections without the rule. Due
to this rulemaking and other changes already underway in the power sector,
ozone season NOx emissions in these 12 states will be nearly 25,000 tons lower
in 2021 than in 2019, a reduction of 19 percent. The reduction in
emissions is estimated to prevent about 290,000 asthma events, 560 hospital
and emergency room visits, 110,000 days of missed work and school,
and up to 230 premature deaths in 2025. The public health and
climate benefits are valued annually, on average, at up to $2.8
billion each year over the period 2021 to 2040.
Required at power plants in 12 upwind states, the additional
emissions reductions are based on both improving the
performance or utilization of pollution controls already installed
beginning in the 2021 ozone season and installation or upgrade of
state-of-the-art NOx combustion controls beginning in the 2022 ozone season.
The reductions in NOx emissions will lead to significant
improvements in air quality beginning in the 2021 ozone season, which starts in
May.
During warm weather months, NOx emissions from power plants
can react in the atmosphere to create ground-level ozone, or smog. These
pollutants can travel great distances, often crossing state lines and making it
difficult for other states to meet and maintain the air quality standards for
ozone that EPA establishes to protect public health.
Projected 2021 emissions from power plants in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, and West Virginia were found to contribute to pollution levels
that would harm the ability of downwind states to meet or maintain the 2008
ozone NAAQS.
The rule responds to the September 2019 ruling by the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (Wisconsin v. EPA) by addressing the “significant
contribution” of pollution from particular upwind states to
downwind states under the authority provided in Clean Air Act’s “good
neighbor” section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), in order to help downwind
states meet and maintain compliance with the 2008 ozone standard.
