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Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR)

The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued its ruling to stay the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) pending judicial review. While this decision will delay implementation of the CSAPR, it will also leave the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) in place while the Court considers the merits of the challenges to the CSAPR. All the requirements in CAIR, the CAIR Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) and EPA-approved CAIR State Implementation Plans (SIPs) are federally enforceable and all sources that are covered by the three CAIR trading programs - the ozone-season NOx trading program, the annual NOx trading program, and the annual SO2 trading program - must continue to comply with the requirements of those programs. EPA will ensure the transition back to the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) occurs as seamlessly as possible. Please see our Bulletins page for updates on CSAPR and the continuing implementation of CAIR.

Announcements

January 14, 2012 - A new Bulletins page has been added to the CSAPR site for updates on CSAPR and the continuing implementation of CAIR.

January 10, 2012 - EPA restored 2012 CAIR allowances to accounts. Additional allocations of 2012 allowances will be done as soon as the allocation files are submitted to EPA by the states

Older Updates

On March 10, 2005, EPA issued the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). This rule provides states with a solution to the problem of power plant pollution that drifts from one state to another. CAIR covers 27 eastern states and the District of Columbia. The rule uses a cap and trade system to reduce the target pollutants—sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—by 70 percent.

States must achieve the required emission reductions using one of two compliance options: (1) meet the state’s emission budget by requiring power plants to participate in an EPA-administered interstate cap and trade system that caps emissions in two stages, or (2) meet an individual state emissions budget through measures of the state’s choosing.

See also:

CAIR Background Information

States Covered by CAIR

Map of the United States showing the 27 states and District of Columbia which are covered by the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR)

                                                                                                       

Where to find more information:

Where You Live - Descriptions of the health and environmental benefits of the Clean Air Interstate Rule in each of the 27 states in the Eastern US and the District of Columbia.

Basic Information - Summary of the Clean Air Interstate Rule as well as a summary of the design of the program and the benefits it would provide.

Regulatory Actions - Links to proposed and final rules, fact sheets, and other rulemaking documents.

Charts and Tables - A collection of printable charts, tables, and graphics demonstrating the health and environmental benefits of the Clean Air Interstate Rule.

Technical Information - Technical support information and links to related information.

Older Announcements:

 

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