Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reforms Act of 2015

To amend the Clean Air Act with respect to exceptional event demonstrations, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reforms Act of 2015 2. Clean Air Act exceptional events Section 319(b) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7619(b) (1) in paragraph (1)(B)— (A) in clause (i)— (i) by striking (i) stagnation of air masses or (i)(I) ordinarily occurring stagnation of air masses or (II) (ii) by inserting or (B) by striking clause (ii); and (C) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii); and (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (B)(iv), by striking to petition the Administrator to to submit a petition (in this section referred to as an exceptional event demonstration (B) by adding at the end the following: (C) Criteria for determination of exceptional event demonstration (i) In general The criteria for evidence, analyses, and documentation applicable to approval or disapproval of an exceptional event demonstration under the regulations under this section shall be stated with specificity in order to minimize the discretion of the Administrator in approving or disapproving that demonstration. (ii) State participation The Administrator shall develop the criteria in conjunction with input from the States. (iii) Contents The criteria shall reflect the varying levels of technical expertise and resources available in State and local agencies and the varying availability of meteorological and other monitoring data in rural areas, and may vary with respect to different regions. (iv) Considerations In developing the criteria, the Administrator shall consider the use of an expedited or streamlined approval process and conditions under which exceptional event demonstrations may be suitable for such a process. (D) Timing of determination of exceptional event demonstration (i) Deadline for determination (I) In general Not later than 90 days after submission of an exceptional event demonstration, the Administrator shall approve, disapprove, or request additional information from a State regarding the exceptional event demonstration. (II) Administration If the Administrator does not approve, disapprove, or request additional information relating to an exceptional event demonstration within the 90-day period described in subclause (I), the demonstration shall be considered to be approved on the day after the date on which that 90-day period ends. (ii) Deadline if additional information requested (I) In general If the Administrator requests additional information from a State regarding an exceptional event demonstration under clause (i), not later than 90 days after the submission of that additional information, the Administrator shall approve or disapprove the demonstration. (II) Administration If the Administrator does not approve or disapprove a demonstration for which additional information is submitted within the 90-day period described in subclause (I), the demonstration shall be considered to be approved. (E) Burden of proof The regulations promulgated under this section shall provide that— (i) a determination by the Administrator with respect to approval or disapproval of an exceptional event demonstration be based on a preponderance of the evidence; and (ii) in making a determination, the Administrator— (I) shall accord substantial deference to the findings of the State exceptional event demonstration; and (II) may develop and use analyses and consider evidence not provided in the exceptional event demonstration, subject to the condition that the analyses are developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. (F) Appeals (i) Disapproval (I) In general Subject to subclause (II), disapproval by the Administrator of an exceptional event demonstration shall be considered final action subject to judicial review under section 307(b). (II) Limitation Notwithstanding subclause (I), disapproval by the Administrator of an exceptional event demonstration shall only be subject to appeal by the State that submitted the exceptional event demonstration. (ii) Approval Approval by the Administrator of an exceptional event demonstration shall not be subject to appeal or other judicial action. . 3. Revision of regulations After providing for a notice and comment period, but not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall revise the regulations under section 319(b) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7619(b)

Summary: Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reforms Act of 2015 This bill amends the Clean Air Act to revise the requirements for regulations that govern the review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events. (The Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] may exclude monitored exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards from consideration when designating an area as nonattainment, redesignating an area as nonattainment, or reclassifying an existing nonattainment area to a higher classification if a state demonstrates that an exceptional event caused the exceedances.) The criteria used to determine if an exceptional event was demonstrated must be specific in order to minimize the discretion of the EPA in approving or disapproving the demonstration. The EPA must make a determination within 90 days after the submission of a petition by a state of an exceptional event demonstration. The demonstration is approved if the EPA does not make a determination by that deadline. A determination must be based on a preponderance of the evidence and give substantial deference to the findings of the state exceptional event demonstration. An appeal process for reviewing a disapproval of a demonstration is established.