Nearly 200 Groups Urge EPA to Keep 30-Day Air Permit Comment Rule
Updated
Updated · CleanTechnica · Aug 24
Nearly 200 Groups Urge EPA to Keep 30-Day Air Permit Comment Rule
2 articles · Updated · CleanTechnica · Aug 24
Summary
Late Friday, a coalition of nearly 200 environmental, health and community groups filed comments urging the EPA to withdraw a proposal that would scrap federal public-participation minimums for certain air permits.
The rule change targets state-issued Clean Air Act minor New Source Review permits, now used for projects such as data centers, power plant expansions, asphalt plants, landfills and waste incinerators.
Current EPA rules in place for more than 50 years require public notice of draft permits and at least a 30-day comment period; under the proposal, states and local agencies could decide whether to offer any notice or comment at all.
The coalition said written comments cite nearly 50 cases where public input led agencies to tighten pollution controls and monitoring, echoing concerns raised by communities at a July 22 EPA virtual hearing.
The dispute broadens pressure on data-center and industrial permitting, with opponents warning the change would allow more approvals to proceed behind closed doors before construction begins.