New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act
Sponsored By: Representative Griffith
In Committee
Summary
Narrows when facility changes trigger New Source Review permitting. This bill would redefine a "modification" under the Clean Air Act to focus on whether a change raises the maximum hourly emission rate above any hour in the prior 10 years and to exempt changes that reduce emissions per unit or restore reliability or safety unless the EPA Administrator finds a health or environmental harm.
Show full summary
- Industry and facilities: Many operational changes would avoid New Source Review permits if the post-change maximum hourly emission rate is not higher than any hour in the previous 10 years, and certain emission-reducing or safety upgrades would be explicitly exempt.
- State and local air agencies: The bill would reshape how Prevention of Significant Deterioration and nonattainment rules treat "construction" and "modifications" by tying those tests to significant increases in annual actual emissions and by aligning definitions with the new section 111(a)(4) test.
- Communities and public health advocates: The EPA Administrator would still be able to treat an otherwise exempt change as a modification if it would cause an adverse effect on human health or the environment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Fewer industrial upgrades need air permits
If enacted, this would narrow when plant changes count as a "modification" that needs a permit. A change would count as an increase only if its highest hourly emissions beat the highest hour in the past 10 years. For major facilities, a change would not be a modification if it does not cause a significant annual emissions increase. Projects that cut pollution per unit or improve safety or reliability would usually not be modifications, unless the EPA Administrator finds the higher hourly rate would harm health or the environment. Owners and state and federal permitting offices would use these rules.
No retroactive air permit changes
If enacted, this would block retroactive reclassification of past projects. No prior change would newly count as a "modification" if it was not one the day before enactment. This would help owners avoid surprise permits or costs for old work.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Griffith
VA • R
Cosponsors
Fedorchak
ND • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Ellzey
TX • R
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Boebert
CO • R
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Palmer
AL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Meuser
PA • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Edwards
NC • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Houchin
IN • R
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Bost
IL • R
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Grothman
WI • R
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Miller (WV)
WV • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Harshbarger
TN • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Moore (AL)
AL • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Weber (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Williams (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 2/25/2026
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Allen
GA • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 4/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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