Statement Regarding U.S. EPA Decision regarding South Coast Air Quality Management District

WSPA Statement Regarding U.S. EPA Decision regarding South Coast Air Quality Management District:

WSPA is in full agreement with SCAQMD’s statement in response to the EPA decision. The statement from the South Coast Air Quality Management (AQMD) Chief District Counsel provides an accurate understanding of what EPA is stating: “It is important to understand that EPA’s decision is NOT a criticism of the Governing Board’s adoption of the RECLAIM amendments in December. It has nothing to do with whether the Board adopted a 12 ton per day or 14 ton per day ‘shave.’ Instead, it is based on a perceived inadequacy of the prior RECLAIM rule, which has already been superseded. In short, the disapproval is based on a technicality, which staff expects to be remedied by submitting the December RECLAIM amendments to EPA, along with any additional technical information EPA needs to ensure that these amendments satisfy RACT.” [emphasis added.]

WSPA’s supports AQMD’s decision not to reconsider its bipartisan December 5, 2015 amendments to the NOx RECLAIM regulations. The vote did not weaken air quality regulations; in fact, the Board’s vote for a 12 ton per day reduction far exceeded the AQMD’s commitment of 3-5 tons by 140%. The AQMD Board adopted an aggressive 12 ton per day reduction which will require new emission controls at refineries and other manufacturing facilities, costing billions of dollars. Contrary to how this historic decision has been portrayed by certain interest groups, it is in no way a free give away to the refineries or any of the other over 250 manufacturing facilities that participate in the RECLAIM Program. The facts speak for themselves and are reiterated by the SCAQMD. SCAQMD rightly points out that “since the since the adoption of the RECLAIM program in 1993, there has been a 71% decrease in emissions, new technology for pollution controls, better monitoring and reporting and a high level of compliance in achieving facility emissions caps.”

SCAQMD’s full statement can be found here: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/library/public-information/2016-news-archives/epa-response-on-ract-rac

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