Conservation Groups Urge EPA to Reject Oklahoma Regional Haze Plan
The National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks have submitted comments opposing EPA’s proposed approval of Oklahoma’s 2022 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan. The groups argue that the plan fails to require meaningful new pollution controls, even though Oklahoma’s emissions continue to impair visibility at Wichita Mountains Wilderness Area and other protected Class I areas in Arkansas and Missouri. They contend that stronger action is needed to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution that harms scenic vistas, public health, and local economies tied to outdoor recreation.
At the center of the dispute is EPA’s newly announced “Uniform Rate of Progress” policy. According to the groups, EPA is using this new approach to avoid a full and rigorous review of Oklahoma’s haze plan. They argue the policy is inconsistent with the Clean Air Act and EPA’s own Regional Haze Rule because it allows the agency to treat the visibility glidepath as a shortcut, rather than requiring a true evaluation of what pollution controls are necessary to make reasonable progress.
The comments also say Oklahoma’s plan suffers from serious technical and legal flaws. Among the problems identified are weak source-selection methods, inadequate documentation, unsupported cost-effectiveness claims, failure to fully assess certain industrial sources, and failure to address all downwind Class I areas affected by Oklahoma pollution. The filing notes that EPA had previously identified many of these same deficiencies during the state comment process, but is now proposing approval without adequately addressing them.
The groups conclude that Oklahoma’s regional haze plan does not meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act and should not be approved. They are calling on EPA to withdraw its proposal and disapprove the state plan unless it is strengthened to require the emissions reductions needed to protect visibility in national parks and wilderness areas.
Click here to read the full submission.