EPA’S CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS – ONE YEAR AFTER THE CAIR AND CAMR FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL POWER PLANT AIR EMISSIONS CONTROL POLICY

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) urges Congress to implement a multi-pollutant policy to address the public health and environmental crises caused by power plant emissions. CATF proposes capping sulfur dioxide at 2 million tons per year and nitrogen oxides at 1.6 million tons per year, while requiring a 95% reduction in mercury emissions. The document highlights that current regulations are insufficient to prevent 30,000 annual premature deaths or allow ecosystem recovery from acid rain. It further argues that these pollution controls are necessary prerequisites for the effective operation of carbon capture technologies and should be linked to any free carbon allowances provided under climate legislation like the Waxman-Markey bill.

• Power plant emissions are a primary driver of public health risks, contributing to over 30,000 preventable premature deaths annually due to the inhalation of fine particles.
• The Clean Air Task Force proposes a multi-pollutant legislative approach, such as the Clean Air Power Act (CAPA), which would cap annual sulfur dioxide emissions at 2 million tons and nitrogen oxide emissions at 1.6 million tons.
• CATF recommends a statutory backstop for mercury control, requiring a 95% plant-by-plant reduction at all existing coal-fired power plants if a MACT rule is not implemented by 2012.
• EPA's 2005 analysis of the Clean Air Power Act (CAPA) estimated that the health and environmental benefits in 2020 would range from $137 billion to $161 billion, outweighing the incremental cost of approximately $9.5 billion by a ratio of 14 to 1.
• Current sulfur dioxide reductions under the 1990 Clean Air Act are insufficient for ecosystem recovery; an additional 80% reduction from Phase II levels is needed for biological recovery to begin in the Northeastern U.S. by mid-century.
• Power plants are responsible for approximately two-thirds of sulfur dioxide emissions and one-quarter of nitrogen oxide emissions in the United States.
• Ground-level ozone in the Eastern U.S. is linked to significant health impacts, including an estimated 159,000 emergency room visits and 6.2 million asthma attacks each summer.
• Mercury emissions from coal-fired units account for over one-third of total U.S. mercury emissions, posing severe neurotoxic risks to developing fetuses and children.
• The document argues that for post-combustion carbon dioxide capture technologies to function properly, coal plants must virtually eliminate their emissions of sulfur, nitrogen, and mercury.
• CATF suggests that any free carbon dioxide allowances granted to the power sector under legislation like the Waxman-Markey bill should be conditioned on plants meeting BACT or LAER limits for sulfur and nitrogen, and MACT for mercury.

APA

Schneider, C. G. (2009). EPA’S CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS – ONE YEAR AFTER THE CAIR AND CAMR FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL POWER PLANT AIR EMISSIONS CONTROL POLICY. Clean Air Task Force. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093321/20090709-Carper_CAPA_CS_EPW-2.pdf

Chicago

Schneider, Conrad G. EPA’S CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS – ONE YEAR AFTER THE CAIR AND CAMR FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL POWER PLANT AIR EMISSIONS CONTROL POLICY. Clean Air Task Force, 2009. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093321/20090709-Carper_CAPA_CS_EPW-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Schneider |first1=Conrad G. |title=EPA’S CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS – ONE YEAR AFTER THE CAIR AND CAMR FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL POWER PLANT AIR EMISSIONS CONTROL POLICY |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=9 July 2009 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093321/20090709-Carper_CAPA_CS_EPW-2.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{schneider2009epas, author = {Schneider, Conrad G.}, title = {{EPA’S CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS – ONE YEAR AFTER THE CAIR AND CAMR FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL POWER PLANT AIR EMISSIONS CONTROL POLICY}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2009}, month = jul, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093321/20090709-Carper_CAPA_CS_EPW-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }