Sen. Carper Applauds D.C. Circuit on EPA’s Clean Air Good Neighbor Rule

WASHINGTON– Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement applauding the D.C. Circuit for lifting the judicial stay on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, or the “Good Neighbor Rule” attempts to ensure all states are good neighbors by cleaning up their sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution from power plants that drifts across their borders and poses significant risks to public health in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. This ruling follows the Supreme Court’s April decision to uphold the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and reverse a previous decision by the D.C. Circuit Court to vacate the rule.    
 
“In April of this year, I was thrilled that the Supreme Court upheld the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule – or what I like to call the Good Neighbor Rule. I am very pleased the D.C. Circuit has and I am very pleased to see the D.C. Circuit Court has finally lifted its judicial stay on the rule. I hope this ruling will finally put us on a path toward cleaner air in the near future.

“Air pollution doesn’t stop at state boundaries. Downwind states like Delaware can only do so much to protect against the harmful impacts of air pollution without cooperation from their neighbors. I always try to live my life by the Golden Rule and treat others the way I want to be treated. The Good Neighbor Rule helps to ensure that states follow the Golden Rule with their air policies so we all work together to reduce pollution.”

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is EPA’s replacement of the Clean Air Interstate Rule, which also addressed interstate air pollution and was remanded by the D.C. Circuit Court in 2008.