A top official of the Environmental Protection Agency predicts the electric power industry will soon see a consolidated approach to controls for air toxics, ozone, particulates and greenhouse gas emissions. Bruce Jordan, director of EPA's Emission Standards Division, says, "The quest for cost-effective emission reductions will force a holistic approach. The time has come for merging the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and toxics programs that have been separated for so long." Jordan notes that "many sources of air toxics are also sources of particulate matter, ozone, and other so-called conventional pollutants covered under the NAAQS program."
Speaking at last month's Environmental Summit '98, Jordan described the agency's pilot program to develop consolidated rules for the chemical industry, which he indicated will be a model for the electric power industry. That effort, EPA's "first attempt to consolidate air rules, was a horrendous task," Jordan said. "But the rule is now ready to go and is at the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review." He noted the unique feature of having industry pay for the emissions testing needed to develop the rule, since EPA did not have the budget to do so. In a similar vein, EPA has proposed having coal burning power plants test their coal for mercury, since the agency has concluded that mercury is the air toxic of most concern from coal-fired boilers (ED, Apr. 27).
When asked about Jordan's reference to "greenhouse gasses," one source said the agency is considering proposing ambient air quality standards for them. The source said there is plenty of evidence for a secondary, or welfare-based, climate change standard, and some evidence -- such as the predicted spread of malaria -- for a health-based primary standard. EPA has claimed for some time that it has the statutory authority to control greenhouse gas emissions. Jordan's remarks echo the EPA position paper on electric power restructuring floated earlier this year (ED, Feb. 10), which said that large economic savings can be achieved through integrated planning of control measures.
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