william yeatman - epa's woeful deadline performance raises questions about agency competence,...

7/28/2019 William Yeatman - EPA's Woeful Deadline Performance Raises Questions About Agency Competence, Climate Cha

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This matters for three important reasons:

It calls into question the EPAs competence. These three programs comprise the core ofthe regulatory regime established by the Clean Air Act. For more than two decades, the EPA has

failed to meet its congressionally delegated responsibilities for these foundational Clean Air Act

programs by a wide margin. This has been the case under both Republican and Democraticadministrations. Why has this failure been allowed to persist?

It calls into question EPAs discretionary exercises of power. Since 2009, despite theEPAs persistent failure to meet non-discretionary deadlinesthat is, deadlines that have been

codified in the statutethe agency has taken on enormous new discretionary regulatoryresponsibilities pursuant to the Clean Air Act as a result of its unilateral decision to regulate

greenhouse gases as pollutants.4

Indeed, in every Unified Regulatory Agenda since 2010, EPA

has listed climate change policy as its first guiding priority.5

Why is the EPA giving priority toduties chosen by unelected bureaucrats, rather than responsibilities assigned by elected

representatives?

It exposes the insidiousness of sue and settle. Sue and settle refers to friendlylawsuits filed by environmental advocacy organizations against the EPA that lead to collusivepolicymaking.

6The basis of the preponderance of such lawsuits is the agencys alleged failure to

meet a particular Clean Air Act deadline. Instead of litigating, the agency agrees to enter directly

into settlement negotiations with these groups in order to establish when the agency will meet itspast due responsibilities.

Some commentators have questioned whether sue and settle causes any harm by asking: What

could be inappropriate about negotiating a Clean Air Act deadline?7

Here is an answer: If the

EPA is out of compliance with virtually all its deadlinesas shown by this reportthen clearly

the agency has limited resources relative to its responsibilities. As a result, establishing anydeadline determines how the EPA deploys its limited resources, which is no different than

rendering policy. This is troubling.

Sweetheart lawsuits are enabling secret policy negotiations between unelected bureaucrats and

environmental lawyers. If the EPA wants to give priority to its many outstanding responsibilities,

it should do so in cooperation with the states, which have to actually implement theseregulations, rather than the likes of environmental special interests like the Sierra Club, Natural

Resources Defense Council, or Center for Biological Diversity.8

Notes

1 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are the foundational regulatory program of the Clean Air Act.

There are six NAAQSfor carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, particulate matter, ozone, and sulfur dioxideestablished at levels requisite to protect public health, with an adequate margin of safety. Section 109(d)(1) of the

Clean Air Act requires the EPA administrator to complete a thorough review of National Ambient Air Quality

Standards, and revise them if necessary, every five years.2 The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) in its current form was amended to the

Clean Air Act in 1990. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments established a thorough schedule by which the program

was to be implemented. Not a single NESHAP was promulgated on time pursuant to section 112(d)(4) criteria formajor and area sources and section 112(d)(5) alternative criteria for area sources. For all major sources, the EPA is


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4

required by Clean Air Act section 112(f)(2) to conduct a residual risk review within eight years of the promulgation

of the NESHAP. For both major and area sources, section 112(d)(6) requires the agency to review the NESHAP

standards every eight years.3 The New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) program establishes emissions limits for new, major stationarysources. Pursuant to Clean Air Act section 111(b)(1)(B), EPA is required to review NSPS every 8 years.4

See Marlo Lewis, EPA Runs Amuck, Green Watch, August 2011, http://cei.org/other-studies/epa-runs-amuck5 EPA Unified Agenda 2010,http://www.reginfo.gov/public/jsp/eAgenda/StaticContent/201010/Statement_2000.html; EPA Unified Agenda

2011, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/jsp/eAgenda/StaticContent/201110/Statement_2000.html; EPA Unified

Agenda 2012: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/jsp/eAgenda/StaticContent/201210/Statement_2000.html.6 For more on sue and settle, seeRegulating Behind Closed Doors, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, June 2013,

http://www.uschamber.com/reports/sue-and-settle-regulating-behind-closed-doors; See also, William Yeatman,EPAs New Regulatory Front: Regional Haze and the Takeover of State Programs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

,June 2012, http://cei.org/studies/epas-new-regulatory-front.7 See John Walke, Cantor Report Attacks Environmental Law Enforcement, Falls Flat with Baseless Conspiracy

Theory, NRDC Switchboard, October 10, 2012,http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jwalke/the_office_of_house_majority.html.8 The EPA has actually litigated to prevent state and local officials from intervening in negotiations to establish

deadlines pursuant to a Clean Air Act lawsuit. See section two of William Yeatman, Environmental ProtectionAgencys Assault on State Sovereignty, American Legislative Exchange Council report, July 2013,

http://cei.org/studies/us-environmental-protection-agencys-assault-state-sovereignty.


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APPENDIX 1


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Section109NationalAmbientAirQualityStandardsDeadlineReviewColorKey

YellowcellsareactionspromulgatedpastdeadlineGreencellsareoutstandingdeadlines

NAAQSPollutant NAAQSPromulgated 109(d)(1)ReviewPromulgated TimeOverdueCarbonMonoxide 4/30/1971 9/13/1985

8/1/1994 1418

8/31/2011 4413

Lead 10/5/1978 11/12/2008 9170 N.B.LeadNAAQSreviewisnotsheduledtobecompletedontime.Nitrogendioxide 4/30/1971 6/19/1985 Reviewbeganin2012

10/8/1996 2303

2/9/2010 3046

Ozone 4/30/1971 2/8/1979

3/9/1993 3317

7/18/1997

3/27/2008 2079

ParticulateMatter 4/30/1971 7/1/19877/18/1997 1843

10/17/2006 1552

1/15/2013 456

Sulfurdioxide 4/30/1971 9/14/19735/22/1996 6460

6/22/2010 3318


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APPENDIX 2


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APPENDIX 3


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Section111(b)(1)(B)NewSourcePerformanceStandardsDeadlineReviewColorKey

Yellowcellsareactionspromulgated pastdeadline

Browncellsareactionspromulgated ontime

Greencellsaresourcecategories withanoutstanding 112(d)(6)deadline

CFRCite Industry NSPSPromulgated 111(b)(1)(B)Review TimeOverdue(Days)DurationCurrent

RegulationIsPastDue(Daysasof7/6/2013)

40CFR60SubpartDa ElectricUtilitySteamGeneratingUnits 6/11/1979 9/16/1998 4115

2/27/2006

40CFR60Db IndustrialCommercialInstitutional SteamGenerating Units 11/25/1986 9/16/1998 1391

2/27/2006

40CFR60SubpartDc SmallIndustrialCommercial Institutional SteamGenerating Units 9/12/1990 2/27/2006 2725

40CFR60SubpartF PortlandCement 12/23/1971 9/9/2010 5017

40CFR60SubpartG NitricAcidPlants 12/23/1971 8/14/2012 5660

40CFR60SubpartH SulfuricAcidProduction 12/23/1971 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartI HotMixAsphaltFacilities 3/8/1974 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartJ PetroleumRefineries 3/8/1974 6/24/2008 9605

40CFR60SubpartKa StorageVesselsforWhichContruction, Reconstruction, orModificationCommencedaft 4/4/1980 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartKb StorageVesselsforWhichContruction, Reconstruction, orModificationCommencedaft 4/8/1987 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartL StandardsofPerformanceforSecondary LeadSmelters 3/8/1974 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartM SecondaryBrassandBronzeProductionPlants 3/8/1974 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartN PrimaryEmissionsfromBasicOxygenProcessFurnaces forWhichConstruction IsComm 3/8/1974 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartNa SecondaryEmissionsfromBasicOxygennProcessSteelmakingFacilitiesforWhichConst 1/2/1986 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartP PrimaryCopperSmelters 1/15/1976 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartQ PrimaryZincSmelters 1/15/1976 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60Subpart R PrimaryLeadSmelters 1/15/1976 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartS PrimaryAluminumReduction Plants 1/26/1976 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartT PhosphateFertilizer IndustryWetProcessPhosphoricAcidPlants 8/6/1975 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR

60

Subpart

U

Phosphate

Fertilizer

Industry

Superphosphoric

Acid

Plants 8/6/1975 none

since

1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartV PhosphateFertilizer IndustryDiammoniumPhosphatePlants 8/6/1975 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartW PhosphateFertilizer IndustryTripleSuperphosphate Plants 8/6/1975 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartX PhosphateFertilizer IndustryGranularTripleSuperphosphate StorageFacilities 8/6/1975 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartY CoalPreparationandProcessingPlants 1/15/1976 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartZ FerroalloyProductionFacilities 5/4/1976 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartAA SteelPlants:ElectricArcFurnaces ConstructedafterOctober21,1974andbeforeAugus 9/23/1975 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartAaa SteelPlants:ElectricArcFurnaces andArgonOxygenDecarburizationVesselsCon st ru ct e 1 0/ 31 /1 98 4 n on esince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartBB KraftPulpMills 2/23/1978 94[ProposedReview5/23/2013] 4204

40CFR60SubpartCC GlassManufacturingPlants 10/7/1980 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartDD GrainElevators 8/3/1978 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartEE SurfaceCoatingofMetalFurniture 10/29/1982 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartGG StationaryGasTurbines 9/10/1979 7/6/2006 6874

40CFR60SubpartHH LimeManufcaturing 3/7/1978 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartKK LeadAcidBatteryManufcaturingPlants 4/16/1982 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartLL MetallicMineralProcessingPlants 2/21/1984 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartMM AutomobileandLightDutyTruckSurfaceCoatingOperations 12/24/1980 10/11/1994 2117

40CFR60SubpartNN PhosphateRockPlants 4/16/1982 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartPP AmoniumSulfateManufacture 11/12/1980 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartQQ GraphicArtsIndustry: PublicationRotogravure Printing 11 /8 /1 98 2 n onesince1994 4204

40CFR

60

Subpart

RR Pressure

Sensitive

Tape

and

Label

Surface

Coating

Operations 10/18/1983 none

since

1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartSS IndustrialSurfaceCoating: LargeAppliances 10/27/1982 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartT MetalCoilSurfaceCoating 11/1/1982 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartUU AsphaltProcessingandAsphaltRoofingManufacture 8/6/1982 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartVV EquipmentLeaksofVOCinSOCMIforwhichConstruction, Reconstruction, orModificati 1/18/1983 11/16/2007 6146

40CFR60SubpartWW BeverageCanSurfaceCoatingIndustry 8/25/1983 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartXX BulkGasoline Terminals 8/18/1983 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartAAA NewResidential WoodHeaters 2/26/1988 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartBBB RubberTireManufacturing 9/15/1987 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartDDD VOCEmissionsfromthePolymerManufacturing Industry 12/11/1990 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartFFF FlexibleVinylandUrethaneCoatingandPrinting 6/29/1984 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartG GG Eq ui pmentLeaksofVOCinPetroleumRefineries forWhichConstruction,Reconstructio 5/30/1984 11/16/2007 5648

40CFR60SubpartH HH S ynt heti cFiberProductionFacilities 4/5/1984 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartIII VOCEmissionsfromtheSyntheticOrganicChemical ManufacturingIndustryAirO xi dati o 6/ 29 /1 99 0 n onesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartJJJ PetroleumDryCleaners 9/21/1984 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartKKK EquipmentLeaksofVOCfromOnshoreNaturalGasProcessingPlantsforWhichContruc 6/24/1985 8/16/2012 6993

40CFR60SubpartLLL SO2fromOnshoreNaturalGasProcessingforWhichConstruction,Reconstruction, or 10/1/1985 8/16/2012 6894

40CFR60SubpartNNN VOCemissions fromSyntheticOrganicChemical ManufacturingIndustry(SOCMI)D is ti lla 6/ 29 /1 99 0 n onesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartO OO N on me ta ll icMineralProcessingPlants 8/1/1985 6/9/1997 1408

4/28/2009 1419

40CFR

60

Subpart

PPP Wool

Fiberglass

Insulation

Manufacturing

Plants 2/25/1985 none

since

1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartQQQ VOCEmissionsfromPetroleumRefineryWastewaterSystems 11/23/1998 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartRRR VOCEmissionsfromSyntheticOrganicChemicalManufacturingIndustry(SOCMI)Reacto 8/31/1993 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartSSS MagneticTapeCoatingFacilities 10/3/1988 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartTT IndustrialSurfaceCoating: SurfaceCoatingofPlasticPartsforBusiness Machines 1/29/1988 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartU UU Cal ci ner sandDryersinMineralIndustries 9/28/1992 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartVVV PolymericCoatingofSupporting Substrates Facilities 9/11/1989 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartW WW Mun icip alSolidWasteLandfills 3/12/1996 nonesince1994 4204

40CFR60SubpartIIII StationaryCompressionIgnitionCombustion Engines 7/11/2006

40CFR60SubpartJJJJ StationarySparkIgnitionInternalCombustion Engines 1/18/2008

Summary 68totalsourcecategories

54sourcecategoryreviewsarepastdue

william yeatman - epa's woeful deadline performance raises questions about agency competence,...

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