Bill > HR4214

This bill, titled the Clean Air and Building Infrastructure Improvement Act, aims to streamline the process for obtaining preconstruction permits, which are required before constructing or modifying a stationary source of pollution. The key provision mandates that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must publish final regulations and guidance for implementing any new or revised national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) at the same time the standard itself is finalized. This guidance must include specific information on how to submit and process preconstruction permit applications under the new standard. Crucially, if the EPA fails to provide this concurrent guidance, the new or revised NAAQS will not apply to preconstruction permit applications until such guidance is published, ensuring that permit applicants and authorities have the necessary information to comply. The bill also includes specific provisions for the "2024 Primary Annual Particulate Matter2.5 Standard," stating it will not apply to permit applications that are deemed complete or have received public notice of a preliminary determination or draft permit before certain deadlines related to the area's designation under the Clean Air Act. Importantly, the bill clarifies that these changes do not eliminate the requirement for applicants to install the best available control technology (BACT) or the lowest achievable emission rate (LAER) technology, nor do they prevent state, local, or Tribal authorities from imposing stricter emissions requirements than the federal standards.