Environmental Protection Agency
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units and Standards of Performance for Fossil-Fuel-Fired Electric Utility, Industrial-Commercial-Institutional, and Small Industrial-Commercial-Institutional Steam Generating Units
May 3, 2011 - 76 FR 24976 - RIN: 2060-AP52 - Download Full Notice: Text | PDF
The United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) from coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units (EGUs) under Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) section 112(d) and proposing revised new source performance standards (NSPS) for fossil fuel-fired EGUs under CAA section 111(b). The proposed NESHAP would protect air quality and promote public health by reducing emissions of the hazardous air pollutants (HAP) listed in CAA section 112(b). In addition, these proposed amendments to the NSPS are in response to a voluntary remand of a final rule. We also are proposing several minor amendments, technical clarifications, and corrections to existing NSPS provisions for fossil fuel-fired EGUs and large and small industrial-commercial-institutional steam generating units.
This is a proposed regulation. Comments were due on July 5, 2011.
Mercatus Center Regulatory Report Card
Score:
33 / 60
55%
F
What this Rule is Proposing
The United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) from coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units (EGUs) under Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) section 112(d) and proposing revised new source performance standards (NSPS) for fossil fuel-fired EGUs under CAA section 111(b). The proposed NESHAP would protect air quality and promote public health by reducing emissions of the hazardous air pollutants (HAP) listed in CAA section 112(b). In addition, these proposed amendments to the NSPS are in response to a voluntary remand of a final rule. We also are proposing several minor amendments, technical clarifications, and corrections to existing NSPS provisions for fossil fuel-fired EGUs and large and small industrial-commercial-institutional steam generating units.
Commentary
"The rule allows for emission averaging for firms; it does not allow emission averaging across types of fuels or across firms. The rule does not allow electricity producers that face high costs of emission reduction to buy the right to produce additional emissions from those with low costs, thereby lowering the overall cost of meeting this new, more stringent standard. The rule explicitly states that the estimated effect of the rule will only be estimated in the final rule. The rule also fails to address how potential future coal-fire plant operators may build smaller (under 25 megawatts), less permanent plants in order to avoid these emission rules.
Monetized Costs & Benefits (as reported by agency)
| Dollar Year | Millions of 2007$ estimated for 2016 | |
| Time Horizon (Years) | Not Reported by Agency | |
| Discount Rates | 3% | 7% |
| Expected Costs (Annualized) | $10,900 | $10,900 |
| Expected Benefits (Annualized) | $59,000 to $140,000 | $53,000 to $130,000 |
| Expected Costs (Total) | Not Reported by Agency | Not Reported by Agency |
| Expected Benefits (Total) | Not Reported by Agency | Not Reported by Agency |
| Net Benefits (Annualized) | $48,000 to $130,000 | $42,000 to $130,000 |
| Net Benefits (Total) | Not Reported by Agency | Not Reported by Agency |
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