New Stationary Sources Standards

Different sections of the Clean Air Act authorize EPA to regulate particulate matter emissions from new stationary sources, including new source performance standards, prevention of significant deterioration, nonattainment new source review, and national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP). EPA has authored new source performance standards for black carbon sources including coal plants and diesel generators. Prevention of significant deterioration standards apply only to “major” sources of pollution, which must utilize the “best available control technology” for any significant pollutants. Nonattainment new source review also applies to new “major” sources, and requires a “lowest achievable emissions rate” standard. Finally, NESHAP review applies solely to hazardous air pollutants, but these pollutants are often correlated with the emission of black carbon.