Overnight Regulation: EPA readies new air pollution rules

by Tim Devaney - 09/29/15 4:36 PM ET

Welcome to OVERNIGHT REGULATION, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Tuesday evening here in Washington, and the Obama administration is poised to drop a major air pollution rule any day now.

Here’s what is happening.

THE BIG STORY

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect “God’s planet” during a testy climate hearing Tuesday.

The EPA is expected to release controversial air pollution rules later this week that business groups have called the “most expensive regulation in history.”

Republicans are skeptical of the EPA’s upcoming ozone rules, but many Democrats say they may be the world’s last hope to fight climate change. Lawmakers argued about the rules during a heated Senate hearing.

{mosads}”It’s God’s planet,” Boxer declared at the hearing. “We’ve got to protect it.

The EPA is expected to strengthen the air pollution rules by lowering the levels at which businesses and communities are allowed to emit ozone. The current ozone limit is 75 parts per billion (ppb), but the agency is expected to lower it to between 70 ppb and 68 ppb.

Republicans say this would make it the most expensive regulation in history, with one disputed study claiming it could cost businesses $1.7 trillion to comply.

Senate Environment Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) accused the EPA of colluding with “extremist environmental groups” on the rule.

“The EPA is essentially cutting corners in a shameless attempt to promote President Obama’s environmental legacy,” Inhofe said at the hearing.

Republicans contend that the ozone standards will raise energy costs for Americans and question how effective the rules will be at fighting climate change.

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 235 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register.

–The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will issue new rules for child restraint systems on airplanes.

Airlines will be required to provide passengers with information online about the “width of the narrowest and widest passenger seats” in each section of the plane so they can determine which child restraint systems will fit.

The rule goes into effect in 30 days. http://bit.ly/1OECtj4

–The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will release a list of national priorities targeting “hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants throughout the United States.”

The EPA will use these priorities as a guide to help it “assess the nature and extent of public health and environmental risks,” the agency said.

The changes go into effect in 30 days. http://bit.ly/1h81K6E

–The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will propose new protections for certain rattlesnakes.

The eastern massasauga rattlesnake would be listed as a threatened species under the agency’s proposal. These rattlesnakes are found in 10 states around the country.

The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1KJ1NR9

NEWS RIGHT NOW

Republicans wary of regulating on-demand economy. http://bit.ly/1MYCQof

Clinton: Cooperation, not speeches, needed to regulate Wall Street. http://bit.ly/1VlB70R

EPA expects success from new methane rules. http://bit.ly/1P4dHrW

EPA cracks down on oil refinery pollution. http://bit.ly/1PLZNZI

GOP senators: Police lives also matter. http://bit.ly/1MYDgej

Small-drone group brings on first outside lobbyist. http://bit.ly/1QJNY6k

FAA funding fight shifts to the Senate. http://bit.ly/1O69bKc

BY THE NUMBERS

75 parts per billion: The current limit on ozone pollution.

70-68 parts per billion: The new ozone limits the EPA is expected to issue Thursday.