EPA Proposes Transport Rule to Aid Downwind States A new EPA
proposal is taking aim at reducing emissions from power plants
that affect people living downwind. Air pollution from these
sources has been shown to cause thousands of asthma cases and
other cardio-respiratory impairments. The proposed regulations
have been termed the “transport rule” because it is designed to
address the eastern United States, across which the pollution is
transported. The transport rule uses a section of the Clean Air
Act known as the “good neighbor” provision. This addresses the
harm from upwind polluters in one state to downwind recipients
in another state. The rule targets power plants whose pollution
is transported across the borders of 31 eastern states plus the
District of Columbia. It would reduce emissions of sulfur
dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to meet state-by-state
emission reductions. EPA estimates that by 2014, this rule plus
other state and EPA actions will equate to a 71 percent
reduction of SO2 and 52 pe