p. 1 

# OAR Box 1781 Prepped by Ollie Stewart



### Document

Number: 

# 110 ) IV-C-2

4 Docket Number: 

# A-90-3 7

Printed 10/29/2008 10:46:23 AM Sheet 110 of 142P. 2 UNITE D STATE S ENVIRONMENTA L PROTECTIO N AGENC Y



### AU G I 2 

### 199 9
Honorabl e Jef

f Session s Unite d State s Senat

e Washington , D C 20510-0104 Dea r Senator Sessions : 

# W-C 

# -2.4 -



# c Thi s i s i n respons e t o your lette r o f Jul y 20,199 9 i n which you expresse d your view s o n th e Ne w Sourc e Review (NSR) Refor mproject . In you

r letter , you encourage d m

y office to allow additiona

l time to full

y evaluat e th e NS Rrecommendation s recentl y propose d b y severa l stakeholde r groups . We are i n th e proces s o f

carefull y reviewin g an d considerin g th e recentl y submitte d proposals , and w e remai n ver y committe d to a

n appropriat

e exchang e o f

idea s an d to reachin g workabl e solution s o n th e remainin g issues . A t th e sam e time , w e recogniz e th e nee d t o balanc e th e time demand s o f

reopenin g th e dialogu e wit h th e nee d to sta

y o n trac k and reach closur

e withi n th e comin g months . Yo u ma y b e intereste d to lea

mtha t w e ar e schedulin g meeting s wit

h representative s fromth e majo r stakeholde

r group s to allo w fo

r a n additiona

l opportunit

y fo r dialogue . Thes e discussions , t o occu r in Augus t an d September , wil l help infor mou r senio r managemen

t a s fina l decision s ar

e made o n thi s rulemaking . I trul y appreciat

e your interes t an d input i n thi s importan

t environmenta

l rulemakin g an

d hop e tha t m y respons e i s o f

servic e t o you . Sincerely , 

# ORIGINAL SIGNE D B

Y R0 

# ^ilV'LaBRENNE R (jr)

J erciasep e Assistan t Administrator USEPA:OAQPS:ITPID:nG:DSvensgaard:ythorpe:919-541-2380:MD-12:8/5/9 9 Contro l No . AL-990171 4 Du e Date : 8/12/9 9Controlle d Correspondenc e Fo r OFFIC E O F AI R QUALITY , PLANNIN G AN D STANDARD S - RT P P. 3 S ;

CONTRO L N O : AL-990171 4 ORIG . DU E DATE : 08/10/9 9 STATUS : PENDIN G CORRES . DATE : RECEIVE D DATE : ASSIGNE D DATE : CLOSE D DATE : 07/20/9 9 07/29/9 9 07/29/9 9
FROM : ORG : SALUTATION : CONSTITUENT : TO : T O ORG : SUBJECT : ASSIGNED : SESSION S JEFF-R/A L UNITE D STATE S SENAT E DEA RSENATO RSESSION S

CLEA N AIRACT S NE W SOURC E REVIEW (NSR ) PROGRAM Information Transfer and Progra m Integration Divisio n COPIE S O F INCOMIN G PROVIDE D TO : OCIR/DIAN N FRANT Z 

# V\G> " 

# H"Tv*a SIGNATURE : ASSISTAN T ADMINISTRATO R OAQP S COMMENTS : OARINSTRUCTIONS : PREPAR E REPLY FO RTH

E ASSISTAN T ADMINISTRATOR' S SIGNATURE . OAQP S INSTRUCTIONS : 

# ^*l< , *.«* *
|Lea d Assigne d

ITPI D Date Assigne d 07/29/9 9 Code/Statu s ACTIO N Date Complete d b y Assigne e

- Date Returne d t o

OAQP S :

-

(Untitled ) 

# 207/29/-9 9 TH

U 14:1 1 FA

X P. 4 ©00 2
Controlle d Correspondenc e Fo r OFFIC E O F AI R AN D RADIATIO N
CONTRO L NO : STATUS :

FROM : ORG : SALUTATION : AL-990171 4

PENDIN G ( ] i 1 ORIG . DU E DATE : (TORRES . DATE : RECEIVE D DATE : ASSIGNE D DATE : CLOSE D DATE : SESSION S JEFF-R/A L UNITE D STATE S SENAT E DEA RSENATO RSESSION S 08/12/9 9 07/20/9 9 07/29/9 9 07/29/9 9

CONSTITUENT : TO : T O ORG : SUBJECT : ASSIGNED : CLEA N AIRACT S NE W SOURC E REVIEW (NSR ) PROGRA M

Offic e o f Ai r Qualit

y Plannin g & Standards • RT P COPIE S O F INCOMIN G PROVIDE D TO : OCIR/DIANN FRANT Z SIGNATURE : ASSISTAN T ADMINISTRATO R OA RCOMMENTS : Adde d on : 07/29/9 9 Fro m Rub y Conley/DC/USEPA/U S - C C T O PERCIASEPE,BRENNER^EALE,NOFERI,PYLE S A L INSTRUCTIONS : MUS T B E RETURNE D T O OCI R(1304 ) 3RD FLOO RWT . FO RREVIEW AN D DISPATCHING . INCLUD E "HARD " COP Y O F SIGNE D REPL Y FO R CONGRESSIONA L FILE S (AL) . D O NO T DAT E LETTER . OA RINSTRUCTIONS : PREPAR E REPL Y FO RTHE ASSISTAN T ADMINISTRATOR' S SIGNATURE .
I Lea d Assigne d

OAQP S Dat e Assigne d 07/29/9 9 Code/Statu s ACTIO N Date Complete d b y Assigne e

. Dat e Returne d t o OAR : •

(Untitled ) 

# 3P. 5 07/29/9 9 TH

U 14:1 1 FA

X l£|UU 4 JEF F SESSION S ALABAM A 

# ©nited $tatt 8 Senat e WASHINGTON , D C 20510-010 4 - COMMITTEES : ARME D SERVICE S JUDICUUI Y - * HEALTH . EDUCATION , LABOII , AN D PENSION S

JOIN T ECONOMI C
Jul y 20,199 9 Rober t Perciasep e Assistan t Administrator

fo r Wate r Environmenta

l Protectio n Agency 40 1 M Street

S W Washington , D C 2046 0 Dea r Assistant Administrator

Perciasepe : I understan d tha

t tiie Agency ha s initiate d arigorous dialogu e wit h th e state s an d th e regulate d communit

y to develop proposal s t o simplif y an d clarif y th e Clea n Ai r Act' s Ne w Sourc e Review (NSR) Program . Th e state s and th e regulate d communit y ar e takin g you r outreach efforts ver

y seriously and hav e investe d agrea t dea l o f energ y i n developin g refor m proposals . I commend yo u fo r initiatin g thi s dialogue . EP A staf f withi n bot

h your office s o f Ai r Qualit y Plannin g an

d Standard s an d Enforcemen t an d Complianc e Assuranc e hav e acknowledged tha t th e NS Rprogra

mi s i n nee d o f

reform . Ove

r fou r thousan d page s o f

interpretiv e guidanc ej comple x rule s an d conflictin g interpretatio n firom differen t office s of EP A an d th e state s have create d aprogra mwit h ver y unclea r obligations . Th e complexitie s of

th e current

NS Rsystemimpos e unnecessar y burden s o n state s and uncertaint y fo r th e regulate d community . Thi s complexif y stifle s innovatio n an d threaten s th e globa l competitivenes s o f

th e nation' s manufacturing secto r fo r littl e environmenta

l benefit . I understan d tha

t yo u inten d to decid

e soo n whethe

r to continu e you r

discussion s wit

h th e regulate d communit

y an d the state s or

to promulgat

e arul e o n NSR . I a

mconcerne d that promulgatin g th e rul e no w might magnif y th e problem s associate d wit h th e ol d NS Rproposal s an d caus e th e agency to mis s a n opportunit

y to wor k wit h the state s an d industr

y to craf t an equitabl e refor

mproposal . Thi s i s a

n outstandin g opportunit

y t o avoi d th e contentiou s proceeding s an

d litigatio n tha

t hav e characterize d man

y othe r recent EPA actions . 1 urg e yo u t o continu e th e dialogu e wit h th e state s an

d regulate d communit

y befor e proceedin g wit

h an y NS Rrulemaking . You

r co-operatio n wit

h th e regulate d communit

y an d proven leadershi

p wil l lea d t o avastly improved th e NS Rprogram .

session s 

# 4 - PRINTE O O N RECYCLE D PAPE RP. 6

Controlle d Correspondenc e Fo r OFFIC E O F AI R AN D RADIATIO N
CONTRO L NO : AL-990171 4 STATUS : PENDIN G ORIG . DU E DATE : 08/12/9 9 CORRES . DATE : 07/20/9 9 RECEIVE D DATE : 07/29/9 9 ASSIGNE D DATE : 07/29/9 9 CLOSED DATE : FROM : ORG : SALUTATION : CONSTITUENT : TO : T O ORG : SUBJECT : ASSIGNED : SESSION S JEFF-R/A L UNITE D STATE S SENAT E DEA RSENATO

RSESSIONS
CLEA N AI RACT S NE

W SOURC

E REVIE W (NSR) PROGRA

M Offic e ofaAi r Qualit y Planning & Standard s - RTP COPD2 S O F INCOMIN G PROVIDE D TO : QCER/DIAN

N FRANT Z SIGNATURE : ASSISTAN T ADMINISTRATO R OA RCOMMENTS : Added on : 07/29/9 9 Fro mRub y Conley/DC/USEPA/U S - CC T O PERCIASEPE.BRENNER.BEALE.NOFERI.PYLES A L INSTRUCTIONS : MUS T B E RETURNE D TO OCI R (1304 ) 3R

D FLOOR WT , FOR REVIE W AN D DISPATCHING . INCLUD E "HARD " COP

Y O F SIGNE D REPL Y FO R CONGRESSIONA

L FILE S (AL) . D O NO T DAT E LETTER . OA RINSTRUCTIONS : PREPAR E REPL Y FO R TH E ASSISTAN

T ADMINISTRATOR' S SIGNATURE . |Lea d Assigne d

OAQP S Date Assigne d 07/29/9 9 Code/Statu s ACTIO N Dat e Complete d b y Assigne e

- Date Returne d t o OAR : •

(Untitled ) a ^P. 7 

### CtV . Mvo*^ ^ 

# ^EP A OFFIC E O F CONGRESSIONA L AN D INTERGOVERNMENTAL/^ ^ CORRESPONDENCE i\J ^ 

## CONTRO L SLI P WT,

COPIE S O F INCOMIN G PROVIDE D TO : OCIR/DIAN N FRANT Z CONTRO L NO : STATUS : FROM : ORG : SALUTATION : CONSTITUENT : COMMITTEE : TO : T O ORG : SUBJECT : ASSIGNED : AL-990171 4 OR1G . DU E DATE :

PENDIN G CORRES . DATE : RECEIVE D DATE : ASSIGNE D DATE : CLOSE D DATE : SESSION S JEFF-R/A L UNITE D STATE S SENAT E DEA RSENATO RSESSI©N S 08/12/9 9 07/20/9 9 07/29/9 9 07/29/9 9

CLEA N AI RACT S NE W SOURC E REVIE W (NSR ) PROGRA M AI R& RADIATIO N SIGNATURE : ASSISTAN T ADMINISTRATO R INSTs : MUS T B E RETURNE D f O OCIR(1304 ) 3R D FLOO RWT , FO RREVIEW AN D DISPATCHING . INCLUD E "HARD " COP Y O F SIGNE D REPLY FO R CONGRESSIONA L FILE' S (AL) . D O NO T DAT E LETTER . COMMENTS : IMS : IMT :

Lu d Assigne d

OA R MYRTLE LASHLE Y

MYRTL E LASMLEY/DC/USEPA/U S Dat e Assigne d 07/29/9 9 Code/Statu s ACTIO N Date Complete d b y

Assigne e

- Date Returne d t o

OCIR :

-

A L Correspondenc e - Contro l No : AL-990171 4 

# bP.8
JEF F SESSION S ALABAM A 

# lEnitc

d State s Senat e WASHINGTON , D C 20510-010 4 COMMITTEES : ARME D SERVICE S JUDICIAR Y HEALTH . EDUCATION . LABOR , AN D PENSION S

JOIN T ECONOMI C
July 20,199 9 Rober t Perciasep e Assistant Administrator

fo r Wate r Environmenta

l Protectio n Agenc

y 40 1 M Street

SW Washington , D C 2046 0 Dea r Assistant Administrator

Perciasepe : I understan d tha

t th e Agenc y ha s initiate d arigorou s dialogu e wit h th e state s an d th e regulate d communit

y to develo

p proposal s t o simplif

y an d clarif y th e Clea n Air Act' s Ne w Sourc e Revie w (NSR

) Program . Th

e state s and th e regulate d communit y ar e takin g your outreac h efforts ver

y seriously an

d hav e investe d agrea

t dea l o f energy i n developin g refor m proposals . I commend yo u fo r initiatin g thi s dialogue . EP A staf f withi n bot

h you r office s o f Air Qualit y Plannin g an

d Standard s and Enforcemen t an d Complianc e Assuranc e hav e acknowledged tha t th e NS Rprogra

mi s i n nee d o f

reform . Ove

r fou r thousan d page s of

interpretiv e guidance , complex rule s and conflicting interpretatio n firom differen t office s o f EP A an d th e state s hav e create d aprogra mwit h ver y unclea r obligations . Th e complexitie s o f

th e curren t NS Rsyste

mimpos e unnecessar

y burden s o n state s and uncertaint y fo r th e regulate d community . Thi s complexit y stifle s innovatio n an

d threaten s th e globa

l competitivenes s of

th e nation' s manufacturing sector fo r littl e environmenta

l benefit . I understan d tha

t you intend to decide soo n whethe r to continu e you

r discussion s wit

h th e regulate d communit

y and th e state s or

to promulgat

e arul e o n NSR . I a

mconcerne d tha

t promulgatin g th e rul e no w migh t magnif y th e problem s associate d wit h th e ol d NS Rproposal s and caus e th e agency t o mis s a n opportunit

y to wor k wit h th e state s an

d industr y t o craf t an equitabl e refor

mproposal . Thi s i s a

n outstandin g opportunit

y to avoi d th e contentiou s proceeding s an

d litigatio n tha

t hav e characterize d man

y othe r recen t EP A actions . I urg e yo u t o continu e th e dialogu e wit h th e state s an

d regulate d communit

y befor e proceedin g wit

h an y NS Rrulemaking . You

r co-operatio n wit

h th e regulate d communit

y an d proven leadership wil l lea

d t o avastl y improve d th e NS Rprogram .

Sincerely , session s 

# 7

PRINTE D O N RECYCLE D PAPE R