Opinion ID: 682710
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statutory Deadline

Text: 20 The utilities also challenge the agency's refusal to extend their deadline for compliance with the NO subx emission standard beyond the January 1, 1995 deadline prescribed in section 407. They argue that the standard was not promulgated in accordance with the statute because of the EPA's failure to do so until nearly two years after its own statutory deadline, and that the delay unfairly deprives them of an adequate opportunity to make preparations necessary to comply. Our decision to vacate the rule moots the issue. 21 Section 407 provides that After January 1, 1995, it shall be unlawful for any unit that is an affected unit on that date and is of the type listed in this paragraph to emit nitrogen oxides in excess of the emission rates set by the Administrator pursuant to this paragraph, which requires the standard to be set by regulation. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7651f(b)(1) (Supp. IV 1992) (emphasis added). Because the utilities are obligated to comply with NO subx emission limits set by regulation, the effect of our vacatur of the regulation is to suspend the utilities' compliance obligation pending further rulemaking by the agency. To 'vacate' ... means 'to annul; to cancel or rescind; to declare, to make, or to render, void; to defeat; to deprive of force; to make of no authority or validity; to set aside.'  Action on Smoking & Health v. Civil Aeronautics Board, 713 F.2d 795, 797 (D.C.Cir.1983) (citations omitted). 22 The EPA's new NO subx emission standards will undoubtedly take effect after the statutory deadline of January 1, 1995. In this regard, we note the agency's representation at oral argument that it would be inclined to exercise its enforcement discretion in favor of the utilities in order to account for delay in the rulemaking process.