Number: RS21424
Title: Air Pollution: Legal Perspectives on the Routine Maintenance Exception to New Source Review
Authors: Robert Meltz, American Law Division 
Abstract: A major Clean Air Act issue is the extent to which an existing power plant or factory may be changed without that change being a modification subject to the Acts stringent air pollution control requirements for new sources of air pollution. This report focuses on a widely used exemption allowing changes that constitute routine maintenance without triggering such stringent requirements. It surveys the statutory and regulatory landscape surrounding the routine maintenance exemptionin the contexts of determining applicability of New Source Performance Standards, and New Source Review in Prevention of Significant Deterioration and nonattainment areas. It then summarizes the one significant court decision on EPAs application of the exemption, and outlines EPAs December 31 proposed rule specifying two categories of activity that would be deemed routine maintenance per se.
Pages: 6
Date: Updated February 20, 2004