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EPA/OAR RIN: 2060-AW16 Publication ID: Fall 2024 
Title: Removal of Affirmative Defense Provisions From Specified New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 
Abstract:

An affirmative defense provision is provided in some CAA section 111 and 112 regulations (e.g. 40 CFR 63.11895) which allows applicable regulated sources, in a judicial or administrative proceeding, to demonstrate that despite reasonable efforts to avoid a malfunction, an emission standard was violated for circumstances beyond the control of the source. This provision further provides that courts can only assess civil penalties if violators “fail[ed] to meet [their] burden of proving all of the requirements in the affirmative defense.” See 78 Fed. Reg. 10,006, 10,039 (Feb. 12, 2013). In 2014, the D.C. Circuit Court vacated the affirmative defense provision in one of the EPA’s CAA section 112 regulations. NRDC v. EPA, 749 F.3d 1055 (D.C. Cir. 2014). The court held that the EPA exceeded its statutory authority when establishing the affirmative defense and held that the authority to determine civil penalty amounts lies exclusively with the courts. Consequently, the EPA has been removing the affirmative defense provision from individual rules as each rule is opened for periodic review. This action will further progress more efficiently by removing the affirmative defense provision from numerous CAA section 111 and 112 rules in a single action.

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 60    40 CFR 63   
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7411 Clean Air Act    42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.    42 U.S.C. 7412   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  06/24/2024  89 FR 52425   
NPRM Comment Period End  08/08/2024 
Final Rule  12/00/2024 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: Local, State 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Michelle Bergin
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
D205-02,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone:919 541-2726
Email: bergin.michelle@epa.gov

Elineth Torres
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Mail Code D205-02,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Phone:919 541-4347
Email: torres.elineth@epa.gov