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ARTICLE · 30 JANUARY 2026

House Committee Passes Significant Clean Air Act Amendments

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On January 21, 2026, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce reported a package of bills that, if enacted, would constitute the most significant amendments to the Clean Air Act...

United StatesEnvironment
Julie Cress
Julie Cress
Debra Jezouit
Debra Jezouit
Allison Watkins Mallick
Allison Watkins Mallick
Matthew Trawick
Matthew Trawick
Jeffrey H. Wood
Jeffrey H. Wood

On January 21, 2026, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce reported a package of bills that, if enacted, would constitute the most significant amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA) since 1990. The amendments address core CAA programs, including New Source Review (NSR), National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and EPA's permit review authority under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Narrow margins in Congress present high hurdles but, if enacted, these amendments could have widespread operational and compliance implications across the energy, industrial, and manufacturing sectors.

Key Changes

  1. Narrows NSR Triggers, Facilitating Maintenance and Improvements to Power Plants and Industrial Facilities

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