EPA Denies Industry Petition to Deregulate Air Toxics-Emitting Combustion Turbines

Washington D.C. —

The Environmental Protection Agency today publicly denied an industry request to delist energy turbines as important sources of toxic air pollution so that companies can avoid meeting environmental health protection standards.

EPA's refusal to delist stationary combustion turbines, which generate power at hundreds of major polluting sources across the country, will ensure that owners of these sources cannot escape pollution control requirements. Environmental groups praised the EPA for resisting pressure from industry lobbyists and maintaining important health and safety protections.

"Today's decision upholds critical environmental protections that are essential to safeguard public health, particularly in communities that have historically borne the brunt of industrial pollution," he said. Director of Earthjustice's Federal Clean Air Practice, James Pew. “Keeping pollution control requirements in place is not just a matter of regulatory compliance; It is a fundamental issue of environmental justice. “EPA did the right thing by rejecting industry’s attempt to circumvent these requirements and get a free pass to pollute.”

Because of the health and environmental threat posed by hazardous air pollutants, the Clean Air Act sets a high bar for petitions to deregulate an entire category of polluters, such as those filed by industry groups including the American Institute of Petroleum, to eliminate stationary turbines from the list. . Industry groups have repeatedly attempted to delist stationary turbines without submitting the required evidence. Today, the EPA concluded that the industry's latest petition fell short and denied it “with prejudice,” making clear that it would reject any future petition “as a matter of law, unless such future petition is accompanied by new information or analysis.” and substantial.” This decision represents a significant step in getting major polluters to control their toxic pollution and protect already overburdened gated communities.

Stationary combustion turbines are power generators used primarily to generate electricity or mechanical power and occasionally for propulsion. They operate similarly to jet engines, but are installed in a fixed or stationary position rather than used for aviation. These turbines burn fuel (often natural gas, but also oil or other liquid fuels) to produce high-pressure gas. These turbines are used in power plants, at liquefied natural gas terminals, along pipelines to transport oil and gas, and as a workhorse within petrochemical infrastructure. Its emissions, including nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and other hazardous air pollutants, are regulated by environmental laws to minimize impacts on public health and the environment.

A recent analysis of turbines at existing power plants and LNG terminals shows that these turbines are concentrated on or near the Justice 40 tracts, an indicator of how toxic emissions from these facilities are primarily impacting environmental justice communities. .

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"EPA's denial of the petrochemical industry's attempt to relax regulations for these major sources of toxic air pollution is a victory for public health and the environment," he said. Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics. “This denial ensures that strict controls on dangerous emissions are maintained, protecting our communities from the dangers of air pollution. “EPA’s commitment to upholding these standards reinforces the importance of strong regulatory frameworks that prioritize the health of our planet and its people over industrial convenience.”

"Turbines are a major source of air toxics in Texas," he said. Dr. Neil Carman, Clean Air Program Director for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. "This action today by EPA will help clean the air in our environmental justice communities that are disproportionately affected by emissions from these turbines."

“Southeastern states are facing a huge backlog of stationary gas-fired turbines. “It is vitally important that these turbines remain covered by federal regulations that protect environmental justice communities from dangerous toxic air emissions,” he said. Keri Powell, Air Program Leader at the Southern Environmental Law Center.