On March 15, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final Good Neighbor Plan, which secures significant reductions in ozone-forming emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) from power plants and industrial facilities. This action will save thousands of lives and result in cleaner air and better health for millions of people living in downwind communities. The Good Neighbor Plan ensures that 23 states meet the Clean Air Act’s “Good Neighbor” requirements by reducing pollution that significantly contributes to problems attaining and maintaining EPA’s health-based air quality standard for ground-level ozone (or “smog”), known as the 2015 Ozone National Ambient … Continue reading Good Neighbor Plan for 2015 Ozone NAAQS

On March 14, 2023, EPA announced the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). The proposed PFAS NPDWR does not require any actions until it is finalized. EPA anticipates finalizing the regulation by the end of 2023. EPA expects that if fully implemented, the rule will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses. Read more at https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas

Plan reflects President Biden’s commitment to reducing air pollution, delivering environmental and public health benefits for all WASHINGTON (March 15, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final Good Neighbor Plan, a rule that will significantly cut smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution from power plants and other industrial facilities in 23 states. The final rule will improve air quality for millions of people living in downwind communities, saving thousands of lives, keeping people out of the hospital, preventing asthma attacks, and reducing sick days. The Clean Air Act directs EPA to issue a federal plan to address pollution … Continue reading EPA Announces Final “Good Neighbor” Plan to Cut Harmful Smog, Protecting Health of Millions from Power Plant, Industrial Air Pollution

The basic premise for EJ is that no community should be subject to greater environmental burdens regardless of race, religion, etc. etc. No new regulations have been passed on EJ. However, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act has been used to justify federal interventions on EJ. By executive order, EJ and Climate have to be considered in any federal agency action. EPA issued revised EPA Legal Tools to Advance Environmental Justice. EPA’s External Civil Rights Compliance Office issued guidance on permitting to point out that a permit may be denied even though all emissions requirements are met if the … Continue reading Cumulative Impact Analysis – (EJ), State Level Analysis (12/7 CIBO Committee Presentation)

For reciprocating engines there are MACT standards. There are also NSPS standards with new and existing units. The EPA recently sent out an enforcement alert indicating that there are a number of engines not reporting to EPA, primarily because they did not realize that their particular engine was covered by a regulation. Types of engine (IC or diesel), 2 stroke or 4 stroke, emergency or non-emergency, etc. all have different regulations. Emergency engines are not supposed to be operated in non-emergency situations. If the grid goes down, the emergency engine kicks in. As soon as the power is restored, any … Continue reading Stationary Engines: EPA Enforcement (12/7 CIBO Committee Presentation)

Regulatory agencies have pushed for more monitoring in general and fenceline monitoring in particular. A bill introduced in the House requires EPA to add fenceline monitoring at 100 industrial sites. EJ considerations also impact the drive for more monitoring. Reporting is mostly hard copy. However, public perception is looking at a dynamic website condition, with the idea that any delay in posting the data is indicative of industry attempting to hide something. Facilities do not operate in a vacuum. There are background levels of contaminant concentrations. Facilities also tend to congregate for supply line considerations. Wind and weather can impact … Continue reading Fenceline Monitoring: Real Time Data Processing & VOC Speciation (12/7 CIBO Committee Presentation)

There are a number of issues that are having an impact on requirements for industry in the ozone transport region. The PM2.5 NAAQS current primary and secondary standards were retained by the Trump EPA. The Biden administration has chosen to review the standard. The administration has also revived the CASAC for advice on these issues. They reported a need to reduce the standard, although there were two different positions. The current standard is 12 micrograms/m3. There was one recommendation for 10 – 11 and a second recommendation for 8 – 10. Labor has stated that the standard should be no … Continue reading EPA Air Regulations, MOG Update (12/7 CIBO Committee Presentation)

The GOP now has majority control of the House of Representatives. The Senate remains under the Democrats. This will make it somewhat more difficult to pass legislation. Compromise will be needed. A continuing resolution for funding in the next 2 weeks is likely. The government still needs to be funded. The debt ceiling will have to be released. The Chamber will still be pushing to improve the permitting process. There appears to be bipartisan support for this need. Despite all the climate goals and other objectives, these will not be achieved without a much better permit process. With the House … Continue reading Energy & Environmental Policies – U.S. Chamber, Global Energy Inst. Report (12/8 CIBO Committee Presentation)

2023 Jan IRA Overview

For the short-term natural gas outlook, Henry Hub price is expected to average $7/MMBTU in 2022 and $6/MMBTU in 2023. Pricing has been volatile. Consumption is expected to increase this year with a potential slight decline next year. Net exports will increase. Working gas inventories are expected to remain below the 5-year average at the end of October. Natural gas provides 37% of generation but may drop slightly due to increased renewables. Export LNG will increase. Pipeline exports to Mexico are expected to increase. Gas production is expected to increase. Recent production hit 100 BCF/day. Production is primarily coming from … Continue reading DOE-STEO Natural Gas Markets Outlook & Electricity Markets Update