[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2900 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2900

 To reduce emissions from electric powerplants, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 1999

  Mr. Waxman (for himself, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Olver, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. 
 Hinchey, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Ms. McKinney, Mr. Farr of California, 
 Mr. Vento, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Schakowsky, 
  Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Moran of Virgina, Mr. Lantos, and Mr. 
  Kucinich) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To reduce emissions from electric powerplants, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Smokestacks Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM POWERPLANTS.

    Part A of title I of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following section:

                 ``reducing emissions from powerplants

    ``Sec. 132. (a) Emission Reduction Objectives.--The emissions 
reduction objectives of this section are to--
            ``(1) reduce aggregate sulfur dioxide emissions from 
        powerplants from 1997 levels by 75 percent by January 1, 2005;
            ``(2) reduce aggregate emissions of nitrogen oxides from 
        powerplants from 1997 levels by 75 percent by January 1, 2005;
            ``(3) reduce aggregate carbon dioxide emissions from 
        powerplants by January 1, 2005, to the level of carbon dioxide 
        emissions from powerplants in 1990; and
            ``(4) reduce aggregate mercury emissions from powerplants 
        from 1997 levels by 90 percent by January 1, 2005.
    ``(b) Agency Action.--Not later than 2 years after the enactment of 
this section, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations to achieve 
the emissions reduction objectives specified in subsection (a). Such 
regulations shall achieve the objectives in a manner that the 
Administrator determines will allocate required emission reductions 
equitably, taking into account emission reductions achieved prior to 
enactment of this section and other relevant factors, and may include 
market-oriented mechanisms where appropriate, such as emission trading 
mechanisms. Such regulations shall prevent localized adverse effects on 
public health and the environment and shall prohibit emission trading 
in mercury.
    ``(c) Additional Reductions.--The Administrator may require 
additional reductions in emissions from powerplants in the regulations 
under subsection (b) if the Administrator determines that the emissions 
levels necessary to achieve the objectives specified in subsection (a) 
would not be reasonably anticipated to protect public health or 
welfare.
    ``(d) Modernization of Outdated Powerplants.--(1) On the later of 
the date that is 30 years after the powerplant commenced operation or 5 
years after the enactment of this section, every outdated powerplant 
shall comply with the most recent new source performance standards 
promulgated under section 111, and with the requirements under subparts 
C and D of this Act, applicable to modified sources.
    ``(2) The requirements of this subsection shall be in addition to 
the requirements of regulations issued under subsection (b).
    ``(e) Other Requirements.--This section shall not affect the 
application of any other requirements of this Act.
    ``(f) Definition of Powerplant.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) The term `powerplant' means an electric generation 
        facility with a nameplate capacity of 15 megawatts or greater 
        that uses a combustion device to generate electricity for sale.
            ``(2) The term `outdated powerplant' means a powerplant 
        that has been in operation for 30 years or more. Any period 
        during which a powerplant is out of service shall not be taken 
        into account for purposes of calculating the 30-year period.''.
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