EJToday is SEJ's selection of new and outstanding stories on environmental topics in print and on the air, updated every weekday. SEJ also offers a free e-mailed digest of the day's EJToday postings, called SEJ-beat. SEJ members are subscribed automatically, but may opt out here. Non-members may subscribe here. EJToday is also available via RSS feed. Please see Editorial Guidelines for EJToday content.
Analysis: "Emissions Rules Put Alternative-Fuel Vehicles in a Bind"
NY Times, 04/03/2013"WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency's latest proposed tightening of limits on sulfur in gasoline, and its previous rules, will most likely have the perverse consequence of retarding the development of cars running on batteries, advanced biofuels or hydrogen -- all promising but expensive technologies that have not become mass-market products."
Supreme Court Rejects Oil Industry Challenge To EPA Air Pollution Rule
Reuters, 04/02/2013"WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a challenge by the oil lobby disputing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air pollution rule."
"New York Coke Producer Found Guilty of Pollution"
Reuters, 04/02/2013"A federal jury on Thursday found Tonawanda Coke Corp, accused of years of illegal air pollution, guilty of violating federal clean air regulations and found its environmental manager guilty of hiding plant deficiencies from U.S. regulators."
"Dominion Energy Must Pay $14 Million for Air Pollution"
ENS, 04/02/2013"SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Dominion Energy has agreed to pay a $3.4 million civil penalty and spend $9.75 million on environmental mitigation projects to resolve Clean Air Act violations at coal-fired power plants in three states."
"After Five Years, Has the Bay Area Wood Burning Ban Spared the Air?"
Contra Costa Times, 04/01/2013"Despite some lingering anger over wood-burning rules, Bay Area air quality officials say a five-year burn ban has paid off for the region's 7 million residents."
Obama Admin Moves Ahead With Sweeping Rules Requiring Cleaner Gasoline
Wash Post, 03/29/2013"The Environmental Protection Agency will move ahead Friday with a rule requiring cleaner gasoline and lower-pollution vehicles nationwide, amounting to one of President Obama’s most significant air pollution initiatives, according to people briefed on the decision."
"Court: EPA Can Stop Some Power Plant Modifications"
AP, 03/29/2013"TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Government regulators can try to halt construction projects at power plants if they think the companies didn't properly calculate whether the changes would increase air pollution, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday, marking the latest twist in a decades-long fight over the Clean Air Act."
"Coming Soon: U.S. Tier 3 Emissions and Fuel Standards"
ENS, 03/25/2013"WASHINGTON, DC -- Sometime before the end of March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose new national vehicle emissions and fuel standards by updating a program called Tier 3. Updated Tier 3 standards would cut smog and soot, among other pollutants, by establishing new standards for light-duty vehicles and their fuels to reduce emissions of the most toxic pollutants."
"EPA Likely To Delay Climate Rules for New Power Plants"
Wash Post, 03/18/2013"The Obama administration is leaning toward revising its landmark proposal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants, according to several individuals briefed on the matter, a move that would delay tougher restrictions and could anger many environmentalists."
Cuts Undermine Environment Canada’s Mandate To Enforce Clean Air Regs
Postmedia, 03/18/2013"OTTAWA — The Harper government’s budget cuts to scientific research at Environment Canada have compromised the department’s capacity to crack down on cancer-linked pollution and its mandate to enforce clean air regulations, say enforcement officers in a collection of internal emails obtained by Postmedia News."
"EPA: Fuel Efficiency is Up, While Vehicle Emissions are Down"
NPR, 03/18/2013"A new report says you’re likely to be feeling less pain at the pump than in years past – and not just because gas prices are down a bit this week. Cars and trucks are getting better mileage than ever, and the air is cleaner as a result."
"Mont. Power Plant Sued Over Pollution Controls"
AP, 03/07/2013"BILLINGS, Mont. -- Environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the owners of Montana's massive Colstrip coal-fired power plant, seeking to force the installation of more pollution controls at the decades-old facility."
"AEP Agrees To Close 3 Coal Plants in Emissions Settlement"
Wash Post, 02/26/2013"One of the the nation’s largest utilities agreed Monday to close three of its coal-fired power plants as part of a settlement with government officials and environmental groups, the latest sign of how the nation’s electricity supply is shifting away from coal."
"Data Battles Muddle Solutions for Cleaner Utah Air"
Salt Lake Tribune, 02/26/2013"War has erupted between clean-air activists and state leaders, with the battleground being the data driving decisions about Utah’s air quality."
"Fairbanks Area, Trying To Stay Warm, Chokes on Wood Stove Pollution"
LA Times, 02/18/2013"NORTH POLE, Alaska — In Krystal Francesco's neighborhood, known here as the 'rectangle of death,' the air pollution recently was so thick she could hardly see across the street. Wood stoves were cranking all over town — it was 40 below zero — and she had to take her daughter to the emergency room."

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