PA UPDATES NATIONAL AIR TOXICS ASSESSMENT DATABASE
On Friday, March 11, EPA released its most current update to the National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), a tool that helps federal, state, local governments and other stakeholders better understand the progress being made in reducing air toxic emissions nationwide and the potential health risks from exposure to the air toxics emissions for 178 pollutants. Between 1990 and 2005, air toxic emissions were reduced by about 42 percent from industrial and mobile sources. To learn more about NATA, go to http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/natamain/index.html
EPA ISSUES AIR TOXICS PROPOSAL TO REGULATE POWER PLANT AIR POLLUTION AND MERCURY STANDARDS
On March 16, EPA proposed the first-ever national emissions standards of toxic air pollution from power plants responsible for half of the mercury and over half of the acid gas emissions nationwide. The new air toxics proposal would require power plants; mainly older coal- and oil-fired plants that have yet to install emissions controls such as scrubbers, to install widely available pollution control technologies, cut harmful emissions of mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel and acid gases and improve public health by preventing premature deaths, heart attacks, and aggravated asthma symptoms.
EPA EXTENDS GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING DEADLINE
EPA has issued a final rule extending the 2010 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program data deadline from March 31 to Sept. 30. Sources must register with EPA's online reporting system: the Electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (e-GGRT) by Aug. 1. This will allow EPA more time to test the system for efficiency, and the opportunity for large industrial sources to provide feedback, and become more familiar with the tool prior to reporting. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/extension.html For information on the GHG Reporting Program: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html