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Statement of Need: The Clean Air Transport Rule is necessary to help States address interstate transport of pollutants from upwind States to downwind nonattainment areas. Specifically, the rule is needed to respond to the remand of the Clean Air Interstate Rule by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Summary of the Legal Basis: The Clean Air Transport Rule is needed to help States address the requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the Clean Air Act. This section requires States to prohibit emissions that contribute significantly to downwind nonattainment with the national ambient air quality standards or which interfere with maintaining the standards in those downwind States.

Alternatives: To be determined.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: The proposed rule would yield more than $120 to $290 billion in annual benefits in 2014. This far outweighs the estimated annual costs of $2.8 billion for that year. Both the annual benefits and costs are in 2006 dollars. The emission reductions from this proposed rule would lead to significant annual health benefits. In 2014, this rule would protect public health by avoiding: 14,000 to 36,000 premature deaths, 21,000 cases of acute bronchitis, 23,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 26,000 hospital and emergency room visits, 1.9 million days when people miss work or school, 240,000 cases of aggravated asthma, and 440,000 upper and lower respiratory symptoms. Air quality improvements would lead to increased visibility in national and State parks, and increased protection for sensitive ecosystems including, Adirondack and Appalachian lakes, coastal waters and estuaries, and sugar maple forests.

Risks: To be determined.