The following is a brief outline summarizing the key elements of the U.S. EPA Clean Power Plan from a Michigan perspective, prepared for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting on September 22, 2015.
EPA finalizes demand for 36 states to remove automatic SSM exemptions from SIPs, no later than Nov. 22, 2016.
Neither EPA nor the states may provide facilities with an affirmative defense for Clean Air Act violations that would alter the jurisdiction of the federal courts to assess civil penalties.
EPA has finalized a rule that purportedly clarifies the definition of “waters of the U.S” and therefore affects the applicability of all Clean Water Act programs.
EPA’s rulemaking has been the subject of national attention, with more than 1 million total comments received - some for and some against the rule.
