Clean Air Act

The Clean Air Act is one of the nation’s most important health protection laws. The Council’s Clean Air Act Program goal is to ensure that the Act is fully implemented and enforced in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The Council acts as a regional environmental voice on Clean Air Act issues. Finally, the Council acts as a bridge between national environmental organizations and regional groups on clean air issues that impact the region.

Clean Air Council works towards these goals through government oversight, community organizing and lawsuits. When the Council believes state and federal governments are not fully implementing Clean Air Act requirements it will take appropriate action. In addition, the Council participates in the government rule-making process, shares its testimony with other interested organizations, and facilitates public involvement in the process. Taking part in the administrative process is essential for preserving the right to engage in further enforcement actions. Public participation is also one of the most important and effective methods for citizens to advocate for positive environmental change.

Citizens and Environmental Groups Rally at EPA in Support of Pollution Reductions at the Portland Power Plant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2012

Remarks by Jay Duffy Regarding the Planned Intervention of Clean Air Council and Sierra Club in the Portland Power Plant Suit (As Prepared)

Outside EPA Region 3 Regional Office
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Good afternoon, name is Jay Duffy and I am a staff attorney at the Clean Air Council here in Philadelphia. I would like to take a moment today to go over the steps New Jersey, the EPA and citizens have taken to try to stop the Portland Plant from emitting pollution in violation of the Clean Air Act and why this battle is now headed needlessly to court.

On January 19, 2012, the Clean Air Council submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding EPA Responses to State and Tribal Ozone Designation Recommendations. Ozone is formed through the mixture of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide in the presence of sunlight and can cause damage to the lungs and other health related issues.

On December 2, 2011, Clean Air Council along with Sierra Club and Earthjustice submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on their "Guidance for 1-Hour SO2 NAAQS SIP Submissions."

On July 6, 2010 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new approach to address the growing concern of interstate transport of ozone and fine particle pollution. The recently-enacted Cross-state Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) replaces the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) that was created by the EPA in 2005. In August 2010, The Council worked to gather public comments about this rule at an EPA hearing in Philadelphia. Hundreds testified about the need for stronger air quality regulations to protect public health.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish and periodically revise industry categories and adopt standards of performance reflecting the emission of reduction achievable through application of the best system of emission reduction. These standards are called New Source Performance Standards or NSPS. The purpose of NSPS is to prevent deterioration of air quality from the construction of new sources or modification of existing sources and reduce control costs by building pollution controls into the initial design of plants.

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