On December 8, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would delay the implementation of new air quality rules, setting a target date of July 30, 2011 for new smog guidelines. The new deadline for air quality rules regulating the toxic emissions from industrial boilers is April 2012.
EPA had planned to finalize its ozone pollution rule by mid-2010. The agency now says it wants more input from its Clean Air Science Advisory Committee (CASAC).
EPA is still moving ahead with other clean air rules, such as those aimed at reducing emissions from cars, power plants and industrial facilities that contribute to ozone formation. For example, the agency will begin regulating carbon emissions from power plants and other major stationary sources on January 2, 2011 – a first step towards EPA’s broader regulation of carbon dioxide.