New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act

Efficiency and Pollution Reduction: Under Section 2, a change is not considered a "modification" if it is designed to reduce the amount of an air pollutant emitted per unit of production. This could benefit the environment by making it easier to implement efficiency improvements.

Operational Reliability and Safety: Section 2 also states that a change is not a "modification" if it is intended to restore, maintain, or improve the reliability or safety of a stationary source. This could provide more stable and safer operations for facilities.

Simplified Construction Standards: Sections 3 and 4 clarify that construction requirements for major emitting facilities apply only to the physical construction of discrete parts of an emissions unit. This means other on-site activities—even if they are costly, permanent, or significantly alter the site—would not trigger these specific construction requirements if they are just to accommodate an installation.

Environmental and Health Risks: Section 2 specifies that the exclusions for reliability and safety projects do not apply if the Administrator determines that the increase in the maximum achievable hourly emission rate would cause an adverse effect on human health or the environment. This implies that without such a determination, changes that increase emission rates could proceed.

Changes to Emission Rate Calculations: Section 2 changes the definition of an increase in an air pollutant to depend on whether the new maximum hourly emission rate is higher than any hour in the preceding 10-year period. This change could impact how emissions are monitored and regulated.