Delaware, other states seek stiffer environmental regulations for neighbors

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Delaware and Maryland  are seeking action against “upwind” states when it comes to pollution.

The action is aimed at Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The petition cites decades of inaction by the upwind states at a time when eight Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states have spent tens of billions of dollars to reduce their own air emissions. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, joined  other governors in the region in seeking the change. He is the lone Republican to join with other governors in the effort. New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie, did not join other governors in the region.

Many of the states listed above mine coal and have been reluctant to adopt regulations that would reduce coal production or shut down coal-fired power plants.

The petition asks EPA to require the nine upwind states to join them in what is known as the “Ozone Transport Region” (OTR). Under the federal Clean Air Act, states added to the OTR would have to take actions to limit air pollution consistent with the efforts of the downwind states through the use of readily available control technologies and reliance on cleaner fuels to generate power.

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Under the Clean Air Act, states can petition the EPA to add any state to an air quality region such as the OTR if there is reason to believe it is the source of pollution-causing violations of air quality standards elsewhere. The EPA Administrator is required to approve or disapprove of such a petition within 18 months.

Backers of the expansion claim the cost of removing an additional ton of pollution in downwind states is estimated at between $10,000 to $40,000 – compared to as little as $500 a ton in upwind states, where even some basic control technologies have not been installed.

The petition cites decades of inaction by the upwind states at a time when eight Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states have spent tens of billions of dollars to reduce their own air emissions.

Under the Clean Air Act, states can petition the EPA to add any state to an air quality region such as the OTR if there is reason to believe it is the source of pollution-causing violations of air quality standards elsewhere. The EPA Administrator is required to approve or disapprove of such a petition within 18 months.

Backers of the expansion claim the cost of removing an additional ton of pollution in downwind states is estimated at between $10,000 to $40,000 – compared to as little as $500 a ton in upwind states, where even some basic control technologies have not been installed.

“Delaware air quality remains overwhelmed by air pollution from upwind states, even though we have reduced emissions within Delaware of ozone-forming pollution by more than 70% since 1990,” said Delaware Governor Jack Markell. “While Delaware’s in-state sources are well-controlled with state-of-the-art technology, this is simply not true of our upwind neighbors. As a result, Delaware pays more for health care resulting from respiratory illnesses and our industries are forced to do more than those in the states causing the pollution, and that’s simply unfair. We need a level playing field among states to ensure that all states can enjoy healthy air.”

Delaware will soon be down to one coal-generating plant. The state has also mandated greater use of alternative energy sources. That has drawn fire from critics who claim the state’s economy is being hobbled by high electricity costs.

 

 

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