Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 16, 2025

Under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, where the power plant carbon standards sit , a source category—such as the power sector—is only regulated if that source “causes, or contributes significantly” to air pollution demonstrated to endanger public health or welfare. There are a few critical pieces to unpack here.

Carbon Emissions

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 1, 2022

California has a longstanding leadership role on transportation pollution, and the Clean Air Act grants the state the right to set strong vehicle emissions standards. While the waiver addresses California’s ability to enforce its rules, the Clean Air Act also allows other states the ability to adopt California’s policies.

Nitrogen Oxides

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 2, 2023

On February 2, the Environmental Integrity Project and Clean Air Council filed a notice of intent to sue Shell Chemical Appalachia for repeated violations of air pollution permit limits at its petrochemical plant in Beaver County.

Air Pollution

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 24, 2023

and numerous affiliated companies (collectively, GWRSI) for violation of Clean Air Act (CAA) locomotive regulations. The locomotives at issue in this settlement burn diesel fuel which produces significant emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter.

Clean Air Act

PA Environment Daily

MAY 11, 2023

May 11, the Environmental Integrity Project and Clean Air Council filed a federal lawsuit against the Shell Petrochemical Plant for repeatedly violating permitted air pollution limits from a massive new plastics production plant in Beaver County, which opened last year. In a lawsuit filed in the U.S.

Air Pollution

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 17, 2023

On February 17, the Clean Air Council and the Environmental Integrity Project sent a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection urging the state to temporarily halt operations at a Shell plastics chemical plant in Beaver County that has repeatedly violated air pollution limits and recently released plumes of black smoke for several hours.

Air Pollution

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

On February 12, environmental groups announced the US Environmental Protection Agency formally objected to an air quality permit for the US Steel Edgar Thomson Plant issued by the Allegheny County Health Department in August 2023 saying it was not in compliance with the Clean Air Act. Steel Edgar Thomson by ACHD.

Nitrogen Oxides

PA Environment Daily

MAY 4, 2023

Covanta Delaware Valley, LP is a permitted waste-to-energy facility that has filed an application for a Plan Approval to install equipment that would reduce the amount of the pollutant nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from the facilities six (6) waste combustors to meet the new federal and state standards for air pollution.

Nitrogen Oxides

The Energy Law

JULY 1, 2013

Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the American Lung Association in the litigation involving EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (“CSAPR”). The CSAPR sets limits on sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from power plants in 28 upwind states in the eastern part of the country.

Air Pollution

The Energy Law

AUGUST 24, 2012

Wiegand On August 21, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). Circuit’s remand in 2008 of EPA’s Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which was EPA’s prior attempt at implementing the good neighbor provision.

Air Pollution

The Energy Law

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

By: Lesley Foxhall Pietras On August 8, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a far-reaching Clean Air Act rule intended to address the interstate transport of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from upwind to downwind states. See 76 Fed. 48208 (Aug. See David E.

Air Pollution

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 21, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection notified the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County it will no longer be able to operate under an Air Quality Construction permit and must submit an application for a full Title V Air Quality Permit within 120 days. 12,671,044.75

Nitrogen Oxides

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 3, 2024

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. billion for competitive implementation grants.

Electricity

Legal Planet

AUGUST 22, 2023

States and local air quality regulators have the legal authority to set particulate matter (PM), ozone, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions standards and adopt regulations for these pollutants when they are already in attainment of the national ambient air quality standards ( NAAQS ) set by the U.S.

Regulations

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 12, 2024

In 1963, a typical car—which ran on leaded gasoline without pollution control devices— emitted 520 pounds of hydrocarbons, 1,700 pounds of carbon monoxide, and 90 pounds of nitrogen oxide every 10,000 miles traveled. Even so, cars and trucks are still making us sick—and killing us.

Nitrogen Oxides

Environment, Law, and History

AUGUST 27, 2023

Dan Farber at Legal Planet recently posted on "Cars, Smog, and EPA" An excerpt: For the first 20 years of federal regulation, Congress set the NOx [nitrogen oxides] standards for new cars itself. That’s quite different from the standards for industrial pollution sources, which Congress has always delegated to EPA.

Nitrogen Oxides

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 5, 2023

The transportation sector is also a substantial source of nitrogen oxides and particulates, both of which are dangerous to human health. EPA is an effort by conservative states and fuel suppliers to block EPA regulations of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act. Q: Hi, Sean.

Clean Air Act

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

In 1970, Lee Iacocca, then Ford’s executive vice president, said that the Clean Air Acts limits on tailpipe pollution “could prevent continued production of automobiles” and “do irreparable damage to the American economy. Data from California Air Resources Board ACCII rulemaking documents.

2026

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 12, 2023

The Cuyahoga fire, along with a major oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara that same year, galvanized national attention and led to the first Earth Day, a slew of new air and water protection laws, and the creation of new federal departments to administer them, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Clean Water Act

Vermont Law

APRIL 8, 2022

Juris Doctor Candidate (VLGS '23) and Staff Editor for the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law April 8, 2022 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes air quality standards under the Clean Air Act. (1) 27) The human body’s respiratory system is also harmed by Nitrogen oxide exposure. (28)

Carbon Dioxide

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 17, 2023

Ground-level ozone pollution is a nasty air pollutant that can cause lung problems and asthma attacks. Sadly, the process of setting an outdoor ozone pollution standard has a long history of being undermined by political leaders under the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. Here’s how the process is supposed to work.

Ozone