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Why Congress Should Pass the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act

Union of Concerned Scientists

That was his way as a political leader: working tirelessly and proactively to make connections and fight to ensure everyone had the right to a safe and healthy environment. A myriad of studies since have validated these findings across a number of exposures, such as soot air pollution (PM2.5

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State Air Regulations Can Go Above and Beyond National Standards 

Legal Planet

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.

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Environmentalism and the Supreme Court

Legal Planet

The case involved the lynchpin of the Clean Air Act, EPA’s power to set national air quality standards. The Court then held that greenhouse gases are covered by the Clean Air Act as a type of air pollutant. Among other things, the Clean Air Act gives federal protection to wetlands.

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What’s Been Killing U.S. Coal?

Legal Planet

The passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act and its major 1990 Amendments don’t show up at all in a graph of coal use. Politically, what has happened to coal jobs may be more salient. And what sparked the ensuing plunge in coal use starting with Obama’s presidency?

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EPA’s Power Plant Carbon Rules Are Critical—and Complex. Here’s What to Know, and What to Watch.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Multiple lines of analysis make clear that regardless of how cheap wind and solar power get, without directly addressing pollution from coal and gas plants, the country’s clean energy transition will not happen fast enough. One critical tool for forcing that reckoning comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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Why UCS Supporters Are Pressing EPA to Let California Enforce Its Truck Pollution Rules

Union of Concerned Scientists

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.

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The Good Neighbor Provision on Steroids: Third Circuit Ruling Resurrects Clean Air Act Section 126(b)

The Energy Law Blog

Specifically, Section 126(b) provides that: Any State or political subdivision may petition the Administrator for a finding that any major source or group of stationary sources emits or would emit any air pollutant in violation of the prohibition of [the “good neighbor” provision] or this section. 12-1022, slip op.