What They Are Saying: EPA Takes Further Actions to Improve the NSR Permitting Program

WASHINGTON (Dec. 4, 2019) — Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced several actions to clarify and improve New Source Review (NSR) permitting requirements. These actions will improve regulatory certainty and remove unnecessary obstacles to projects aiming to improve the reliability, efficiency, and safety of facilities while maintaining air quality standards. Here's what stakeholders and elected officials are saying:

Members of Congress

U.S. Senator John Barrasso, Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (WY): “I applaud the Trump administration for its work to simplify the approval process for energy providers and manufacturers. The EPA’s actions will allow power plants to update their facilities and reduce emissions. The New Source Review program is more than 40 years old and desperately in need of reform. That’s why I introduced the Growing American Innovation Now (GAIN) Act, so that New Source Review stops being a barrier to important energy and manufacturing projects. I will continue to work with President Trump and Administrator Wheeler to reform the New Source Review program.”

U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (OK): “For too long, New Source Review permitting requirements stifled job creation, hampered innovation and slowed the ability to modernize critical energy infrastructure. Worse, in previous administrations, the permits were weaponized, so liberal activists could delay key projects. New Source Review hasn’t been updated in over four decades—making it hard to integrate new technologies into our energy infrastructure. I’ve worked for years to modernize the review process, and applaud today’s action by President Trump and Administrator Wheeler to streamline the NSR permitting process.”

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (ND): “One of my consistent frustrations with New Source Review is what seems to be a perverse incentive away from innovation. Thank you to Administrator Wheeler and the Trump Administration for recognizing this and finalizing these positive reforms. The EPA’s actions provide certainty while restoring the proper scope of the Clean Air Act.”

U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (VA-09): “I applaud the EPA for taking further steps to reform the New Source Review permitting program. NSR’s burdensome process can impede upgrades that would actually increase efficiency and improve air quality. The EPA is moving toward a better NSR program that streamlines the process without sacrificing environmental protections.” 

CONTINUE READING ON www.epa.gov