Air


EPA Takes on Gold Production, Cuts Mercury Emissions by 70 Percent

The proposed rule would affect about 20 gold extraction facilities in the United States.

Exxon Subsidiaries in Guam and CNMI to Pay $2.4 M for VOC Emissions

Mobil Oil Guam and Mobil Oil Mariana Islands allegedly discharged hundreds of tons of volatile organic compounds from gasoline terminals.

EPA Proposes Lower San Joaquin Air Pollutant Threshold

The agency is revising the San Joaquin Valley New Source Review threshold from 25 tons to 10 tons per year of ozone-producing pollutants to address the area's "extreme" nonattainment status.

Compactors to Help Improve East Russia City's Waste Disposal

Khabarovsk, Russia looked to sister-city, Portland, Ore., for better waste collection and disposal methods and plans to incorporate pre-load compactors into its waste transfer system.

SCAQMD's VOC Limit Violates California Law, Court Says

California Superior Court said the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Rule 1143, which would set a volatile organic compound limit on solvents, would require manufacturers to produce extremely flammable products.

EPA Clarifies Rules for Mountain Top Mining

To further clarify environmental permitting requirements for Appalachian mountaintop coal removal projects, the agency has issued a comprehensive guidance to its regional offices.

PGE Asks DEQ to Allow Early Closure of Boardman Plant

The proposal includes major emissions reductions for the remainder of plant operations.



Small Businesses Get Funding to Develop Technologies

More than 15 companies received between $46,000 and $70,000 from EPA to apply toward innovative technologies.

Shell Chemical Refineries to Install $6 M Worth of Equipment

Following a Clean Air Act settlement with EPA, Shell Chemical L.P. and Shell Chemical Yabucoa will install pollution reduction equipment and pay a combined $3.3 million civil penalty to the United States, Alabama, and Louisiana.

EPA Knocks Out Facility Exemption from Texas SIP

EPA disapproved the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's air permitting exemption program, which allows companies to avoid certain requirements; TCEQ says it has tried to address federal concerns.

Agency Wants to Review New Source Review Aggregation Policy

EPA is concerned that changes made in January 2009 would make NSR permitting less effective.

EPA: CAA Permitting for Greenhouse Gases Will Be Phased In

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reiterated that stationary sources will not have to comply with greenhouse gas requirements until 2011.

IMO Officially Adopts Emission Control Area Proposal

EPA expects the move will help clean up air quality for U.S. ports as well as inland population centers.

Kansas Corrections Department Failed to Inspect for Asbestos

EPA Region 7 issues compliance order and notice of noncompliance related to a 2005-2006 prison dormitory renovation project in Topeka.

EPA Gives Public Access to Risk Assessment Database

Health and Environmental Research Online provides access to scientific studies used in making key regulatory decisions.

Brandon Shores Power Plant Installs New Scrubbers

Constellation Energy's nearly $1 billion investment helps the coal-fired power plant meet Maryland's emission requirements.

ACSF Supports EPA's Stricter Ozone Standards

The American Clean Skies Foundation said natural gas is an important energy resource that will help control smog levels.

Arvid Boe

Breeder Sees Cup Plant Potential as Biomass/Carbon Storage Crop

South Dakota State University is trying to determine if the cup plant can be grown on land unfit for crops.