Opinion ID: 185414
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: CAA Section 213

Text: 10 Section 213(a)(3) of the CAA requires the EPA to promulgate standards that shall achieve the greatest degree of emission reduction achievable through the application of technology which the Administrator determines will be available for the engines or vehicles to which such standards apply, giving appropriate consideration to the cost of applying such technology within the period of time available to manufacturers and to noise, energy, and safety factors associated with the application of such technology. 42 U.S.C. 7547(a)(3). Husqvarna maintains that the 50-50-72 emission standards do not represent the best balance of these factors for the industry. We disagree that a best balance of the kind Husqvarna contemplates is required. The EPA did not deviate from its statutory mandate or frustrate congressional will by placing primary significance on the greatest degree of emission reduction achievable and by considering cost, noise, energy and safety factors as important but secondary factors. The overriding goal of the section is air quality and the other listed considerations, while significant, are subordinate to that 11 goal. Cf. American Petroleum Inst. v. EPA, 52 F.3d 1113, 1120 (D.C. Cir. 1995). The record indicates that the EPA considered each of the factors listed in section 213 and nothing suggests that the agency abandoned its obligation to balance the statutory factors and select the best balance for a predominant segment of industry from the alternatives before it. Appellant Br. 37 (emphasis original). Contrary to Husqvarna's claim, the EPA did not single out a single engine technology and use it as a benchmark to set standards. Rather, it set the emission standards with four different engine technologies in mind. Cf. NRDC v. Thomas, 805 F.2d 410, 424 (D.C. Cir. 1986) (rejecting petitioner's claim that EPA must determine which engine can achieve greatest emission reduction and then ratchet standard up to account for cost and other factors). 12 Husqvarna argues that the EPA's failure to consider incremental cost-effectiveness illustrates its erroneous interpretation of section 213. Section 213, however, simply directs the EPA to consider cost. Although the EPA considered marginal cost-effectiveness in promulgating marine engine emission regulations, it has not done so in promulgating any other standards under section 213. Moreover, the EPA identified industry-specific factors in the marine engine rulemaking that suggested an incremental cost-effectiveness analysis would be particularly significant to the EPA's choice among various alternative standards. 61 Fed. Reg. 52,088, 52,098 (Oct. 4, 1996). The EPA did consider the cost-effectiveness study submitted by Husqvarna during the public comment period, JA 1885-88, but rejected it as a basis to conclude that the cost of the 50-50-72 standard was unreasonable. Because section 213 does not mandate a specific method of cost analysis, we find reasonable the EPA's choice to consider costs on the per ton of emissions removed basis. See 65 Fed. Reg. 24,300. And there is no dispute that the EPA considered cost in this manner in weighing the factors under section 213. 13 Husqvarna also complains that the changes in the ABT program set forth in the final rule demonstrate improper balancing under section 213. The record, however, indicates just the opposite. It was the EPA's consideration of the factors listed in section 213, notably the mandate to consider the greatest degree of emission reduction achievable, that led to the changes in the ABT program. We find nothing unreasonable about the EPA's conclusion that the ABT program as proposed risked undermining the final rule by unnecessarily delaying the introduction of cleaner engine technologies. 65 Fed. Reg. 24, 284. 14 In sum, we defer to the EPA's selection of emission standards under section 213. The record shows that the EPA reasonably arrived at what it determined was the best regulatory standard by ascertaining the greatest degree of emission reduction achievable while giving appropriate consideration to cost, noise, energy and safety factors.