EPA grants additional time to comment on 
aspects of the Clean Air Interstate Rule

WASHINGTON (11/25/05) -- The U.S. EPA has announced it is granting the public additional time to comment on certain aspects of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). 

CAIR requires 28 States and the District of Columbia to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from power plants. EPA said its action will not delay implementation of the rule, which was issued on March 10, 2005.

EPA has received 11 requests from states, environmental groups and power companies to reconsider certain parts of the final CAIR rule. The agency is confident that the rule's basis is sound, however, it has agreed to provide an additional opportunity for public comment on the following four issues: 

1. analysis done by EPA to address claims regarding alleged inequities resulting from the method used to allocate SO2 emissions allowances to sources for those states that participate in EPA's trading program;

2. the method used to establish state NOx allocation budgets, specifically the use of fuel adjustment factors;

3. certain parts of the modeling EPA used to determine whether Minnesota's PM2.5 emissions require inclusion in the CAIR region; and

4. EPA's determination that Florida should be included in the CAIR region for ozone. 

EPA said it will hold a public hearing on these four issues on Dec. 14, 2005 in Washington, D.C. and will continue to accept public comments until Jan. 13, 2006.

EPA said it expects to take final action on these issues by March 15, 2006. Information related to CAIR and this notice of reconsideration is available online.