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The article discusses issues related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) use of cost figures when calculating the benefit versus the cost of a proposed rule or to establishing standards. A study conducted by the Associated Press revealed that the EPA has lowered the cost of a proposed rule by almost $1 million over the last five years in their calculations. According to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the EPA overstepped its authority by implementing the cap-and-trade rule for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

The article reports on developments regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA has reported that 71 facilities in 29 U.S. states and Puerto Rico have promised to enhance their environmental performance based on the National Environmental Performance Track program. A report from EPA has revealed that air quality in 21 eastern states and the District of Columbia has improved because of its NOx SIP Call rule. Meanwhile, because of air emission violations of ethylene oxide, Cosmed Group Inc. will be paying a $500,000 civil penalty and will be spending an additional $1 million for supplemental environmental projects.

The article offers information about Environmental Protection Agency's clean fuels programs in the U.S. It revealed that the scheme exceeded expectation in their ability to reduce ozone pollutants and other air toxics. Data collected between 1995 and 2005 show that emission reductions were significantly greater than the regulatory requirements which was attributed to reformulated gasoline (RFG) and anti-dumping programs EPA instituted. Topics tackled on the report include gasoline sulfur decreases, RFG nitrogen oxide reductions exceed requirements, RFG toxics reductions exceed requirements and conventional gasoline NOx.

The article reports on the five-four decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a position of the President George W. Bush Administration. It states that greenhouse gas emissions did not constitute pollutants as defined in the Clean Air Act. The Supreme Court decided motor-vehicle emissions make a "meaningful contribution to greenhouse gas concentrations" and to global warming. Moreover, the court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reevaluate its contention that has the discretion not to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

The article reports on the lawsuit filed by several U.S. states against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Over a dozen states have joined in a case against the agency, which seeks to demand the agency to lower the allowed soot levels from smokestacks and exhaust pipes. According to Eliot Spitzer, New York attorney-general, the states were responding to studies that showed the fine material from soot contributes to premature death, asthma attacks and chronic respiratory disease, leading to higher health costs. Furthermore, the states want to reduce the limit by 1 microgram or 2 micrograms of soot allowed per cubic foot of air.

The article reports on the proposal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding toxic air reduction in the country. EPA has proposed an amendment to the air toxics standards general provisions section to invite industrial facilities to reduce air toxic emissions and change their designation as a primary source. In addition, the proposed amendment would allow a major source to become an area source at any time by limiting its potential to emit hazardous air pollutants to below the major source thresholds.

The article reports on the plan of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to gather data on air emissions on 6,000 animal feeding operations (AFO's) in the U.S. According to Granta Y. Nakayama, EPA assistant administrator, the AFO's agreements would ensure air compliance faster than its enforcement action. The AFO's would pay penalty based on the number of animals maintained at the operation and must comply with regulations such as Clean Air Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

Explains how companies in the U.S. can avoid being required to have a Title V permit according to the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990. Extensive amounts of record keeping and semi- and annual reporting and certifications required in a Title V permit; Strategies for reducing emissions to levels below the limits that require a Title V permit.

Presents the environmental strategic plan in the U.S. Reduction of emissions in pilot-program efforts; Evaluation based on the company's standard financial model; Indication on environmental analysis followed by technical assessment.

The article reports on the penalty of BP Products North America Inc. for violating the environmental law in the U.S. It states that the company is required to pay a criminal fee of $60 million for the harm it brought to the people and environment in Texas and Alaska. The company is anticipated to spend an estimated cost of $400 million for the enhancement of its equipment which will help prevent the harmful discharge of chemicals. Furthermore, BP was found guilty for violating the Clean Air Act established by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The article reports on the five-four decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to tell the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. However, the court seemed displeased with the agency's arguments that foreign policy and economic consideration should give the EPA discretion as to whether it should regulate such emissions, and the President George W. Bush Administration was asked by the court to reevaluate its reasoning for the assertion. Moreover, the Supreme Court rendered an unanimous decision in the Duke Energy case, one of several high-profile legal battles concerning energy companies accused of violating the New Source Review (NSR) provisions of the Clean Air Act.

The article reports on the announcement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding its withdrawal on the 2005 proposal to change Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting frequencies. However, the agency is going ahead with a plan to free one third of companies from reporting requirements, allowing them to use the much shorter Form A rather than the much longer Form R. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush proposed easing air regulations to exempt some companies from having to tell the EPA about what it considered to be small releases of toxic pollutants in October 2005.

Reports developments related to environmental policy in the U.S. Decrease in the total toxic releases in the Grand Canyon; Reduction of vehicle emissions through Georgia's Clean Air Force regulation; Proposal of new regulations that allow for the beneficial use of nonhazardous solid wastes.

Reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development is seeking research proposals to determine present and future sources of fine and coarse atmospheric particulate matter (PM). Goals of the agency; Health problems associated with PM; Total amount that the agency is set to provide for research on PM; Contact information.

Reports on regulatory developments concerning environmental protection in the United States, as of March 2000. US Environmental Protection Agency's issuance of a rule establishing effluent limitations guidelines; Proposed amendment of the pulp and paper National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.