US EPA to overhaul process for setting air-quality standards

Washington (Platts)--7Dec2006

The US Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it plans to overhaul
the process it uses to set national air-quality standards for emissions from
power plants, petroleum refineries and other industrial sources.

Marcus Peacock, EPA deputy administrator, said the changes would make the
process "more timely, transparent and consistent" with the best-available
science. Peacock said EPA has used its existing process since 1971 and that
the changes would bring "air rulemaking into the 21st Century."

One of the most significant changes in the new process concerns the
"staff papers" that EPA has generated when it sets out to update air-quality
standards. Since 1971, these staff papers have been written by EPA career
scientists--not political appointees--to render science-based recommendations
on how stringent to set various air-quality standards.

Under the new approach, the papers will be "replaced with a more narrowly
focused policy assessment," EPA said. This document would "connect EPA's
scientific assessment" with the policy choices that EPA's presidentially
appointed administrator makes in determining whether to tighten the standards,
EPA said.

EPA said it would solicit comments on the policy assessment from the
general public, as well as the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, a
Congressionally chartered panel of outside experts that helps set EPA air
rules.

But environmental groups blasted EPA's plan, saying it is designed to
benefit the oil industry, electricity generators and other big polluters by
giving politically appointed EPA employees more say in air standards than the
agency's scientists.

"EPA is downgrading the role of its own career experts and making sure
that political appointees are running the show from the beginning," said Frank
O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch.

Bill Wehrum, EPA's acting air chief, rejected that claim in a conference
call with reporters. EPA believes it is important to get "input for all levels
of the agency," Wehrum said.

--Brian Hansen, brian_hansen@platts.com

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