1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20553Updated October 25, 2002Air Quality and Electricity:Initiatives to Increase Pollution ControlsLarry B. Parker and John E. BlodgettSpecialists in Energy and Environmental PolicyR
2、esources, Science, and Industry DivisionSummarySince the mid-1990s, EPA has initiated actions resulting in regulatory mandatesand enforcement actions directed primarily at coal-fired electric generating utilities.These actions would, if implemented, substantially reduce air pollutants, particularlyn
3、itrogenoxides(NOx). Theseinitiativesinclude theOzoneTransportRule(alsocalledthe NOx SIP Call); a set of “Section 126 petitions” in which 12 states allege underSection 126 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that pollutants originating in upwind statesprevent their attainment of clean air standards; and a set
4、 of enforcement actions basedon New Source Review (NSR) requirements of the CAA that have resulted in lawsuitsagainst several utilities and an administrative order against the Tennessee ValleyAuthority.Although these are separate initiatives, they are related in that eachultimatelyfocuses onemission