article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

PennEnvironment, Clean Air Council Win Record $42 Million Air Pollution Settlement Covering 3 US Steel Facilities In The Mon Valley, Pittsburgh

PA Environment Daily

District Court on Monday a proposed consent decree in settlement of their federal Clean Air Act lawsuit against United States Steel Corporation. Clean air is a right, not a privilege, for all Pittsburghers,” said David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment , the citizen-based non-profit and state group for Environment America.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

EPA Strengthens Emissions Controls for Facilities Emitting Cancer-Causing Ethylene Oxide

Union of Concerned Scientists

Last week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized updated regulations for certain facilities that emit ethylene oxide (EtO), a colorless, cancer-causing gas. For the first time, the government will regulate fugitive or “unintended” emissions and require permanent total enclosure of sterilization operations.

article thumbnail

Fireworks Cause Air Pollution But

Greenbuilding Law

With that wide public sentiment for fireworks, there is actually almost no environmental regulation for the setting off of millions of little explosions of the more than 99% of fireworks imported from China. But, San Diego does regulate fireworks for locations near the coast, requiring expensive permits (.

article thumbnail

Emerging Local Legal Pathways for Building Electrification: Air Pollution and Land Use Regulation in New York City & Brookline, Massachusetts

Law Columbia

This week marked significant growth for the building electrification movement, as the legal pathways in use by local governments to catalyze electrification doubled in number. This week’s advancements offer two new models for local governments looking to require or promote building electrification: air pollution and land use regulation.

article thumbnail

Clean Air Day: Air Pollution Exposure Impact Starts Earlier Than You Think

Breezometer

Researchers even found a correlation between maternal exposure to air pollution and increased susceptibility for Autism Spectrum Disorder in the third trimester of prenatal development. Children are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of pollution as their lungs are still developing: Short-term Impact.

article thumbnail

Truck Loopholes 101 – When Emissions Regulations Don’t Match the Real World

Union of Concerned Scientists

The EPA is getting ready to finalize a critical regulation limiting emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NO X ) and soot (or particulate matter, PM 2.5 ) from new heavy-duty trucks. State regulations have strict inducements, so the degree to which EPA aligns with such parameters is important. Limits on mal-maintenance/tampering.