Delay on marine engines upheld

In the latest round in a long-running battle, the D.C. Circuit has upheld EPA’s foot-dragging on regulation of emissions from large marine diesel engines against a challenge brought by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District, and Friends of the Earth. 

Large ships are major sources of air pollution along the Southern California coast. According to Santa Barbara APCD officials, marine shipping is currently responsible for 40% of NOx emissions in Santa Barbara County, and that proportion is expected to rise as trade with Asia increases.

Clean Air Act section 213 mandates that EPA set standards to reduce emissions to the greatest degree achievable as quickly as emission reduction technology can be developed.  In 1994, EPA set initial standards based on the technology then available, with a promise to develop new standards based on more advanced technologies by April 2007.  The D.C. Circuit upheld that decision at the time, in Bluewater Network v. EPA, 372 F.3d 404 (2004).  Instead of meeting its self-imposed deadline, however, EPA in 2007 extended that deadline to December 2009.

The air districts, with marine smokestacks complicating their already-difficult task of achieving and maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, sought to hold EPA to its original timeline. Although they pointed out that improved emission technologies are now available, the court accepted EPA’s argument that it needed more time “to develop a cost-effective implementation and compliance program for the advanced technologies.”

The court hit on the core of the air district’s frustration in its conclusion:

At the oral argument the petitioners allowed that they would not be objecting to the new deadline if they could be sure the EPA would adhere to it.

Throughout George W. Bush’s two terms, the air districts have been prodding EPA to set more stringent standards for large marine engines. Perhaps now they truly can expect EPA to live up to its commitment.

Clean Air Act, D.C. Circuit, EPA, Friends of the Earth, George W. Bush, Litigation, marine engines, National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District, South Coast Air Quality Management District, technology forcing