The U.S. EPA is currently proposing to overhaul the important New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) applicable to oil refineries, and the proposed rule includes provisions that would make it even harder for the public and federal and state regulators to track emissions. EPA's proposal would, for instance, "clarify" existing rules by eliminating important requirements for continuous monitoring of certain flaring devices, making it harder to obtain accurate emissions data during flaring events that are supposed to be minimized under recent EPA consent decrees. The proposed rule also includes provisions which do not require adequate monitoring and limitation of a number of dangerous pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). In addition, the proposed NSPS fail to place any limitations whatsoever on emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), a major contributor to global warming.

Click here for the Comments submitted by the Environmental Integrity Project on its own behalf and on behalf of the Sierra Club.

Click here for the Comments submitted by Earthjustice on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Project and the Sierra Club.