APPA on Dec. 1 submitted high-level comments in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) for revisions to the regional haze state plan requirements.
The Regional Haze program has implications for some APPA members, as it addresses visibility impairment caused by air emissions from electric generating units (EGUs) and other industrial sources.
APPA’s comments supported EPA’s efforts to reconstruct the regional haze program to alleviate regulatory uncertainty and streamline states' planning efforts.
The comments called for a streamlined, flexible, and state-driven approach to regional haze planning, emphasizing the need for regulatory certainty, the efficient use of resources, and the recognition of real-world progress.
The recommendations also called for clear metrics, deference to states in the four-factor analysis and determining control technology cost-effectiveness, and sensible adjustments for natural events. These changes would improve visibility protection while minimizing unnecessary regulatory burdens.
