EPA Clean Air rules take effect in East

MarketWatch.com (by Dow Jones) ^ | 5/12/05 | Stephanie I. Cohen

[SierraWasp]

EPA Clean Air rules take effect in East
Rule mandates cuts in emissions over next decade

By Stephanie I. Cohen, MarketWatch Last Update: 12:19 PM ET May 12, 2005

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - New federal air rules took effect Thursday that require eastern states to reduce harmful emissions from coal-burning power plants that dirty the air of other states located "downwind" of the pollution sources.

The Clean Air Interstate Rule, or CAIR rule, was published in the Federal Register Thursday, kicking off a timeline to clean up the air in 28 states and the District of Columbia by making permanent cuts in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.

Coal-fired power plants are the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.S. The rule would allow companies to buy and sell credits to achieve the overall cap in emissions.

Once fully implemented, CAIR will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions in these states by more than 70% and nitrogen oxides emissions by more than 60% from 2003 levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The administration maintains the rule will also help more counties in the eastern U.S. meet air quality standards.

EPA said the rule will result in $85 billion to $100 billion in annual health benefits and prevent 17,000 premature deaths annually.

States will have two options to reduce emissions - require power plants to participate in an EPA-administered interstate cap-and-trade system or meet individual state air emission limits.

The EPA proposal will be implemented in two phases. The first phase of nitrogen oxides reductions will start in 2009 and the second phase will begin in 2015. The first phase of sulfur dioxide reductions go into effect in 2010 with the second stage of reductions in 2015.

Under the rule, "attainment will be achieved in a more equitable, cost-effective manner than if each nonattainment area attempted to achieve attainment by implementing local emissions reductions alone," the rule said.

[SierraWasp]

Well... There doesn't seem to be much "downwind" from the east coast except fish and foul!!! We need to get rid of the Nuclear Nutcases like Jane Fonda and "The China Syndrome" fairy tales!!!

That would really clear the air!!!

[SheLion]

EPA said the rule will result in $85 billion to $100 billion in annual health benefits and prevent 17,000 premature deaths annually.

Who is going to pay for that?  Smoker's tax dollars as usual???? 

[stylin19a]

The rule would allow companies to buy and sell credits to achieve the overall cap in emissions.

too funny ! Koyoto for the East Coast.
I wonder how this will reduce emissions ?

[gridlock]

Coal-fired power plants are the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.S. The rule would allow companies to buy and sell credits to achieve the overall cap in emissions.

Of course, this regulation does nothing about the emission of Greenhouse Gases - so called - since it only regulates Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides, not Carbon Dioxide.

[The Electrician]

The Clean Air Interstate Rule, or CAIR rule, was published in the Federal Register Thursday, kicking off a timeline to clean up the air in 28 states and the District of Columbia by making permanent cuts in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.

Boy, the Islamist PR organization CAIR is sure gonna be steamed to find out that their acronym has been appropriated by the eco crowd, huh...

[Gary - Peters]

You don't need to smoke cigarettes in pittsburgh to get cancer from breathing the air.

[SierraWasp]

Now that's crazy! I've been hearing that they cleaned all that up!! Afterall, they used these fear tactics to drive out the filthy capitalistic steel mills and workers, right??? Pittsburg oughta be the "Worker's Paradise" and Eco-illogical Wonderland, by now, don'tcha think???

[SheLion]

You don't need to smoke cigarettes in Pittsburgh to get cancer from breathing the air.

Oh boy!  I remember Pittsburgh!  And Akron, Ohip when they made tires.  P-U!

[SheLion]

O H I O

Can't spell today. :)

[mvpel]

Well... There doesn't seem to be much "downwind" from the east coast except fish and foul!!!

Here in New Hampshire, we have hundreds of millions of dollars sucked out of our economy every year due to EPA air quality requirements including gasoline vapor recovery systems, while New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio get a free ride because all the VOC vapors from their non-vapor-recovery gas pumps blow right up into our state.

[Tribune7]

bump for later

[SierraWasp]

Well... The idiots haven't gained enough control over our economic progress yet!!! They won't be happy till they bring all of America's economic progress to tird whirled status so that "earth could be fair!" (Hitlery Clinton's commencement speech excerpt)

[BOBTHENAILER]

EPA said the rule will result in $85 billion to $100 billion in annual health benefits and prevent 17,000 premature deaths annually.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I just love quotes like that. I just wish they'd be followed up with the "costs" to implement these changes.

[GoldCountryRedneck]

EPA said the rule will result in $85 billion to $100 billion in annual health benefits ...

So, my PA friends can cancel their HMO plans????

Yeah, riiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!!!!

[SierraWasp]

Ah, good! Another Gold Country FReeper!!! Are you north of Tahoe, or south?

[Tribune7]

ping

[Temple Owl]

Be sure to mention how clean nuclear energy is.