Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Californias Advanced Clean Car II (ACCII) regulations are set to go into effect starting with model year 2026 vehicles. However, there is also a long history of the auto industry resisting change by claiming that regulations are an existential threat to their business.

2026

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 17, 2025

California has proposed repealing its recent regulation on in-use emissions from locomotives, another major step backwards in the fight against freight pollution. Beginning in 2001, emissions regulations were phased in for newly built locomotive engines, along with requirements for rebuilt engines. Regulators to the rescue?

Regulations

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 21, 2025

Decades of government vehicle standards to improve vehicle efficiency and cut down on tailpipe pollution have saved car and truck drivers trillions of dollars at the pump, saved countless lives from reduced exposure to toxic air pollution , and avoided the extraction and burning of billions of barrels of oil.

Nitrogen Oxides

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

Regulations like Californias Advanced Clean Trucks rule (ACT) have been key to driving increased ZET model availability and deployment in the early years of on-road freight electrification and will be crucial to accelerating this in the coming years. times) the rate of non-ACT states.

Nitrogen Oxides

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 15, 2025

The increase in loading docks is of particular importance when looking at the air and climate pollution impacts from warehouses. Additionally, heavy-duty trucks are responsible for over half of fine particulate pollution emitted from on-road vehicles as well as a growing share of climate-warming emissions.

Ground-Level Ozone

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 16, 2025

On June 11, less than five months into the Trump administration, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin used a rulemaking about regulating power plant carbon pollution to officially establish climate denial as EPA policy. If a source category isn’t listed, it isn’t regulated. What is EPA proposing to do?

Carbon Emissions

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 21, 2023

But while greenhouse gas emissions may be reduced, a delivery fulfilled by a diesel-burning truck may lead to increases in emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and lung-damaging particulate matter. The number of available electric truck models in the US and Canada has surpassed 180.

Nitrogen Oxides

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

Switching from fossil fuels like gasoline to increasingly clean electricity sources is vital for hitting climate and air pollution goals. These regulations (both state and federal) that UCS has advocated for have saved drivers money and reduced emissions.

Carbon Dioxide

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

First, there’s air pollution. Gas plants and infrastructure emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) during combustion, which degrade local air quality. Exposure to NOx and other gas infrastructure air pollutants has been associated with respiratory illnesses and an increase in childhood asthma rates.

Clean Energy

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 1, 2022

California’s leadership on reducing truck pollution has been on full display the past few years, passing critical regulations requiring 90 percent reduction in smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NO X ) emissions from diesel trucks and requiring manufacturers sell an increasing share of electric trucks to move away from fossil fuels altogether.

Nitrogen Oxides

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 21, 2022

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is currently considering one of the most critical rules for air quality and climate change in many, many years. Regulating big rigs will have big impacts. By regulating just 13 percent of California tractor truck fleets, nearly 90 percent of their emissions will be covered under the ACF.

Nitrogen Oxides

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

I’ve written previously about how the truck industry is fighting regulations at the state and federal level with everything they’ve got. One of the scare tactics truck manufacturers have been pushing is the old industry canard of job-killing regulations. Why would truck regulations impact jobs?

2007

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

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs), like the big rigs on our highways and the vans that deliver our packages, make up just over 1 in 10 of the vehicles on our roads, but are responsible for over half of ozone-forming nitrogen oxide pollution and lung-damaging fine particulate pollution from on-road vehicles.

Electricity

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 12, 2023

tons of nitrogen oxides. tons of nitrogen oxides. The Shell Petrochemical Plant has received a total of 11 Air Quality violations and two Water Quality violations since July, 2022. The PADEP must do more to hold these polluters accountable.” Shell reported emissions of 370.688 tons.

Air Pollution

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 4, 2023

In the coming years, Californians will begin to see a massive switch away from highly polluting fossil-fueled trucks to zero-emission electric trucks. ACF is anticipated to accelerate the annual adoption of zero-emission trucks in California by around 80% , which will reduce exposure-related health complications from air pollution.

Nitrogen Oxides

Enviromental Defense

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Along with their contribution to larger climate change impacts, gas plants also cause local air pollution – mainly nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Respected bodies like the International Energy Agency have been clear – there is no room for new fossil fuel infrastructure if we want to hold warming to 1.5

Nitrogen Oxides

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Comments due March 8. -- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 3 PA Bulletin inviting comments on proposed 2024 Ozone Season Nitrogen Oxide Emission Limits for Nonelectric Generating Units. Notice of new technical guidance documents and regulations? All through its eNotice system.

Nitrogen Oxides

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

Steel Edgar Thomson Plant is an iron and steel making facility with a history of noncompliance with air pollution regulations and a major source of air pollution in Allegheny County.

Nitrogen Oxides

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 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

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 20, 2023

The community is locked into a lasting and significant source of plastics production and dirty air pollution that will degrade the Commonwealth’s air quality and our environmental legacy for decades to come. Our organizations have filed a notice of intent to sue Shell for the consistent violation of air pollution limits.

Air Pollution

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

The study-- Hazardous Air Pollutants In Transmission Pipeline Natural Gas: An Analytic Assessment -- was accepted for publication in Environmental Research Letters journal September 16. This includes new regulations in Pennsylvania. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here.

Air Pollution

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 3, 2024

Because of this, regulators worked closely with impacted businesses, community advocates, and technical and policy experts (like UCS!) Other Frequently Asked Questions… What are the climate benefits from the ACF Regulation? The ACF is estimated to significantly reduce pollution from the statewide commercial truck and bus fleet.

Electricity

PA Environment Daily

MAY 24, 2023

“Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, and my Administration will hold all companies – no matter how big or small – accountable when they violate the laws and regulations protecting our air and water,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro. Shell recognizes that as a company, it must do better, and this $6.2

Air Pollution

Environmental News Bits

MARCH 16, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday morning announced finalized new rules on interstate air pollution, regulating downwind interstate pollution. The latest “Good Neighbor” rule will affect nitrogen oxide pollution that is a key ingredient in smog from facilities in 23 states.

Nitrogen Oxides

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

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 14, 2022

Shell’s air quality plan approval states that the facility’s emissions of VOCs shall not equal or exceed 516.2 This exceedance is a violation of Shell’s plan approvals ( PA-04-00740A , PA-04-00740B , and PA-04-00740C ) and the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act and regulations. tons of VOCs in a 12-month period.

Air Pollution

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 28, 2023

As a general rule (Section A.9) Martin Causer Chair Of House Environmental Committee [PaEN] -- DCED’s Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling Advisory Council Meets Feb. 3 Online Meeting Set On Oil & Gas Facility Monitoring Project [PaEN] -- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community Feb. 1 Monthly Eyes On Shell Meeting. 7:30 p.m.

Natural Gas

Breezometer

JUNE 21, 2021

What is the indoor-outdoor air pollution continuum? Why do smart home brands develop connected indoor air products? In this guide, we explore the subject of indoor air quality and smart home IoT in-depth and explain why indoor air brands are increasingly turning to environmental intelligence to add value and drive sales.

Air Pollution

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 21, 2022

Often an oddity when considering environmental goals, manufacturers seem to be well ahead of regulators when it comes to electrification. It’s a vital missed opportunity that regulators are so out of step with the technology in this realm. Heavy-duty vehicles have an outsized impact on climate change and air pollution.

2030

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 13, 2022

This new regulation would apply to delivery vans, big rigs, box trucks, and buses. The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule has the potential to significantly reduce climate-warming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as harmful air pollutants like fine particulates (PM2.5)

Electricity

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 15, 2022

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.

Regulations

Legal Planet

MARCH 15, 2023

Several cities in California, including Los Angeles and in the Bay Area, have outlawed new gas hookups, but these are the first regulations that would effectively ban the sale of gas appliances. Furnaces and water heaters are even bigger polluters, with major contributions to outdoor air pollution in the Bay Area.

Nitrogen Oxides

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 22, 2022

California’s air pollution regulator, the Air Resources Board, is poised to adopt one of the most important steps that the state has ever taken to reduce exposure to air pollution and limit climate changing emissions. Source: California Air Resources Board GHG Emissions Inventory Data.

Air Pollution

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 11, 2024

Certainly, gas stoves are just one source of air pollution in the District. Just a year later, however, the industry encountered a potentially major obstacle: A study conducted by the government’s National Air Pollution Control Administration found a link between outdoor NO2 exposure and childhood respiratory problems.

2013

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