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ARTICLE · 02 APRIL 2024

Regional Haze, Round 2

Beatty & Wozniak
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If you haven't been paying attention to Regional Haze, it's time to start. While the focus has been on the many new federal rules coming out, the Regional Haze Rule is already in place...

United StatesEnvironment
Margaret Irene Olson
Margaret Irene Olson
Bret Sumner
Bret Sumner
Chris Colclasure
Chris Colclasure
Jim Martin
Jim Martin

If you haven't been paying attention to Regional Haze, it's time to start. While the focus has been on the many new federal rules coming out, the Regional Haze Rule is already in place and set to make a big impact on the fossil fuel industry as EPA starts reviewing states' Round 2 plans. If Round 2 is anything like Round 1, there's sure to be years of litigation ahead.

The purpose of the rule is to restore visibility in Class I areas, like North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park. States have to make a plan to improve visibility, including deciding if controls should be required for sources of visibility-impairing pollutants. If EPA rejects a state's plan, it can write its own.

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