Groups call on EPA to protect frontline communities from air pollution

ATLANTA — Over 100 local, regional, and national groups have submitted comments calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to not move forward with plans that weaken EPA’s ability to protect frontline communities from illegal air pollution.  

By codifying policies enacted under the Trump administration, the proposed rule would prevent EPA from stepping in to ensure that Clean Air Act Title V operating permits issued by state agencies to industrial polluters comply with key air pollution control requirements and would unlawfully exclude requirements that prevent existing polluters from further exacerbating local air pollution when expanding their facilities. 

The Southern Environmental Law Center, along with organizations including the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, Environmental Integrity Project, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Parks Conservation Association, and Sierra Club, submitted comments late yesterday strongly opposing the agency’s proposal.

In response, Keri N. Powell, leader of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Air Program, released the following statement:  

“EPA’s current proposal would make it harder for communities to reduce illegal air pollution from industrial facilities like power plants, chemical manufacturing facilities, and incinerators. This runs counter to the Biden administration’s environmental justice commitments, potentially leading to more pollution in already overburdened communities.” 

The rule would also eliminate the need for a Title V permit to assure compliance with the Clean Air Act’s “General Duty Clause,” which obligates industrial facilities that handle extremely hazardous chemicals to put plans in place that avoid accidental releases of such chemicals and minimize the consequences of releases that do occur.