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R45451 April 18, 2019 Review and rollback of Clean Air Act rules to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants, cars and trucks, and the oil and gas sector [...]

Updated August 13, 2018 Contents Introduction EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations Standards for Motor Vehicles Standards for Power Plants (Clean Power Plan) Standards for the Oil and Gas Industry Air Quality [...]

Updated December 19, 2017 Contents Background Q: Why did EPA promulgate the Clean Power Plan? Q: How much progress has the United States made in reducing GHG emissions and meeting [...]

Updated October 25, 2017 Contents Background Executive Order 13783 Administrative Procedures for Revising or Repealing a Rule What EPA Proposed Going Forward Figures Figure 1. GHG Emissions from Electric Power [...]

Updated February 8, 2017 Contents Introduction Massachusetts v. EPA and Its Effects Motor Vehicle GHG Emissions Light-Duty Motor Vehicles MY2012-MY2016 Standards MY2017-MY2025 Standards and Mid-Term Evaluation Medium and Heavy-Duty Trucks [...]

Updated December 30, 2016 Contents Introduction Has the Obama Administration's EPA Overreached? Conflicting Views What This Report Does A Few Caveats Regarding Timing Congressional Activity Conclusions Organization of the Remainder [...]

Updated December 21, 2016 Contents Introduction EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations GHG Emission Standards for Motor Vehicles GHG Emission Standards for Power Plants Legislative and Judicial Actions Emissions of Other Pollutants [...]

November 2, 2016 In 1977, major amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA) included provisions for the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) of air quality. The PSD provisions were enacted [...]

Updated November 18, 2016 Contents Introduction Issues for Congress Legislative Initiatives Administrative Initiatives The Obama Administration's Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions Methane: A Primer Emissions Historical Trends Source Sectors and [...]

Updated September 27, 2016 Contents Introduction Final Rule Highlights State Plan Requirements and Options Federal Implementation Plan Timing Requirements for State Targets National Performance Standards State-Specific Targets EPA's Methodology National [...]

Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (63) The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish an Office of Pollution Prevention, develop and coordinate a pollution prevention [...]

Safe Drinking Water Act (15) The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act, is the key federal law for protecting public water supplies from [...]

December 20, 2013 Summary With congressional approval, the Nixon Administration established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970 under an executive branch reorganization plan, which consolidated numerous federal pollution control [...]

Contents Introduction EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations Emissions of Other Pollutants from Power Plants Cross-State Air Pollution / Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) North Carolina v. EPA EPA's CAIR Replacement: The [...]

Summary Research on climate change has identified a wide array of sources that emit greenhouse gases (GHGs). Among the six gases that have generally been the primary focus of concern, [...]

Summary This report summarizes the Clean Air Act and its major regulatory requirements. It excerpts, with minor modifications, the Clean Air Act chapter of CRS Report RL30798, Environmental Laws: Summaries [...]

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) was enacted in 1969 and signed into law by President Nixon on January 1, 1970 (P.L. 91-190). NEPA was [...]

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish an Office of Pollution Prevention, develop and coordinate a pollution prevention strategy, and develop source reduction models. [...]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for implementing federal pesticide policies under two statutes: the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA),33 governing the sale and use of pesticide [...]

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) authorizes the EPA to screen existing and new chemicals used in U.S. manufacturing and commerce to identify potentially dangerous [...]

By the end of the 1970s, Congress had enacted several environmental laws to regulate sources of pollution in the United States, but had not yet addressed responsibility for contamination resulting [...]

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA, codified at 42 U.S.C. 11001-11050) was enacted in 1986 as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (P.L. 99-499). EPCRA [...]

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) established the federal program regulating solid and hazardous waste management. RCRA actually amends earlier legislation (the Solid Waste Disposal Act of [...]

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act, is the key federal law for protecting public water supplies from harmful contaminants. First enacted in [...]

The Ocean Dumping Act has two basic aims: to regulate intentional ocean disposal of materials, and to authorize related research. Title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act [...]

The Clean Air Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., seeks to protect human health and the environment from emissions that pollute ambient, or outdoor, air. It requires the [...]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 1970 to consolidate numerous federal pollution control responsibilities that had been divided among several federal agencies. EPA's responsibilities grew over time as [...]

October 8, 2010 Summary The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 1970 to consolidate numerous federal pollution control responsibilities that had been divided among several federal agencies. EPA's responsibilities [...]

Contents Introduction Congressional Concerns Regulation of Stationary Source GHGs Prevention of Significant Deterioration / New Source Review (PSD-NSR) Title V Permits Potential GHG Emission Standards Under Section 111 Congressional Options [...]

Contents Introduction Option 1: Cap-and-Trade Option 2: A Carbon (or GHG) Tax Option 3: Regulation Under Existing Authority The Entry Point: Massachusetts vs. EPA The ANPR The Obama Administration's Approach […]

Contents Introduction Option 1: Cap-and-Trade Option 2: A Carbon (or GHG) Tax Option 3: Regulation Under Existing Authority The Entry Point: Massachusetts vs. EPA The ANPR The Obama Administration's Approach […]

Contents Introduction Policy Options for Addressing Methane Capture Market-Based Emission Control Programs Carbon Offsets Emission Performance Standards Maintain Existing Programs/Incentives Legislative Proposals Concerning Methane Capture Methane: A Primer Global Warming […]

May 8, 2009 Summary As Congress considers legislation to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change, attention has focused on "cap-and-trade" legislation. Such legislation would set […]

May 14, 2009 Summary In the 111th Congress, both the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction are expected to give climate change legislation high priority. The House Energy and Commerce […]

Table 1. Schedule of Expiration of Appropriation Authority for Major Environmental Laws Statute Expiration of Authorization Pollution Prevention Act September 30, 1993 Clean Air Act September 30, 1998 Clean Water […]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for implementing federal pesticide policies under two statutes: the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), (33) governing the sale and use of […]

Introduction The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) was enacted in 1969 and signed into law by President Nixon on January 1, 1970 (P.L. 91190). NEPA […]

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) authorizes the EPA to screen existing and new chemicals used in U.S. manufacturing and commerce to identify potentially dangerous […]

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) established the federal program regulating solid and hazardous waste management. RCRA actually amends earlier legislation (the Solid Waste Disposal Act of […]

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA, codified at 42 U.S.C. 11001-11050) was enacted in 1986 as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (P.L. 99-499). EPCRA […]

The principal law governing pollution of the nation's surface waters is the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, or Clean Water Act. Originally enacted in 1948, it was totally revised by […]

The Superfund hazardous substance cleanup program was created by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA, P.L. 96-510, enacted December 11, 1980). It was enlarged and […]

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act, is the key federal law for protecting public water supplies from harmful contaminants. First enacted in […]

The Clean Air Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., seeks to protect human health and the environment from emissions that pollute ambient, or outdoor, air. It requires the […]

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish an Office of Pollution Prevention, develop and coordinate a pollution prevention strategy, and develop source reduction models. […]

The authorities and responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) derive primarily from a dozen major environmental statutes. This report, updated at the beginning of each Congress, provides a brief […]

The Ocean Dumping Act has two basic aims: to regulate intentional ocean disposal of materials, and to authorize related research. Title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act […]

Several major statutes form the legal basis for the programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many of these have been amended several times. The current provisions of each are […]

Summary Attention to environmental issues in the 110th Congress focused early and heavily on climate change--the state of the science, and whether (and, if so, how) to address greenhouse gas […]

Summary EPA is expected to propose changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone on June 20, 2007. The proposal follows a multi-year review of the science regarding […]