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.
"States, Cities, Environmental Groups Demand EPA Emission Rules"
LA Times, 04/19/2013"WASHINGTON -- A dozen states and cities and three major environmental groups have notified the Environmental Protection Agency that they plan to sue the regulator unless it issues final rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants."
"More Strip-Mine Dust Controls Needed, Researchers Say"
Charleston Gazette, 04/19/2013"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal operators can and should take more aggressive steps to reduce dust emissions from blasting and heavy equipment at mountaintop removal mines, according to new studies released this week as part of a controversial industry-funded research project."
"It’s Official: EPA Delays Climate Rule for New Power Plants"
Wash Post, 04/15/2013"You might have been wondering whether the Obama administration was going to impose the first-ever greenhouse gas limits on new power plants, since the deadline is April 13."
Clean Air: 'Diesel Death Zone' Cleanup Faces Supreme Court Challenge
Greenwire, 04/12/2013"SAN PEDRO, Calif. -- If there's a computer on your desk, a Sony television in your den or a pair of Nike sneakers on your feet, you're connected to Pier 400 at the Port of Los Angeles here."
"Groups Seek Probe Into Low-Grade Crude Shipments To L.A. Refineries"
LA Times, 04/03/2013"A coalition of environmental groups wants air-quality officials to determine if the refining of heavy Canadian crude has an effect on local health and safety."
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."

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