Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends standards under the Clean Air Act to exempt states from penalties for emissions outside of the state's control.

Highlights:

• Amends standards under the Clean Air Act to exempt states from penalties for emissions outside of the state’s control (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that certain nonattainment areas (i.e., those classified as severe or extreme for ozone or as serious for particulate matter) are not subject to sanctions for implementation plan deficiencies or for fees for failing to attain national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) if the state demonstrates it would have avoided deficiencies or attained its standards but for emissions outside of its control (e.g., emissions from an exceptional event like a wildfire) (Sec. 2).

• Requires a state to renew its demonstration at least once every five years for exemption from the sanctions or fees to continue to apply (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that an area within a state may not be designated as a nonattainment area regarding any new or revised NAAQS for a pollutant if the state demonstrates it would be in attainment but for emissions emanating from outside of the country, regardless of whether the emissions resulted from human activity (Sec. 2).

• Relies on current law that provides that a state may demonstrate to the Environmental Protection Agency that but for emissions emanating from outside of the country, it would have attained applicable NAAQS by the attainment date for certain pollutants (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that such emissions emanating from outside the country may include emissions that result from human activity (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text