Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§8343 Rules relating to case-by-case and category prohibitions

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 92— - POWERPLANT AND INDUSTRIAL FUEL USE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - EXISTING FACILITIES › Part Part A— - Prohibitions › § 8343

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may stop a specific powerplant from using natural gas or petroleum only by issuing a final order that applies just to that plant, unless a rule under subsection (b) says otherwise. The Secretary can only issue such an order for a plant that is not already covered by a final rule under subsection (b) when the proposed order is issued. Under subsection (b), the Secretary may instead make a rule banning gas or petroleum at existing electric powerplants under section 8341(b). Any plant a final rule will cover must be named in the proposed rule published under section 8411(b). When making a final rule, the Secretary must consider special features of each category of plants (for example, intermittent use, size, age, or location). A rule cannot apply to an existing plant that already has a comparable ban issued by order.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §8343

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Except to the extent authorized by subsection (b), the Secretary shall prohibit any powerplant from using natural gas or petroleum under the authority granted him under section 8341(b) or (c) of this title only by means of a final order issued by him which shall be limited to the particular powerplant involved.
(2)The Secretary may issue such a final order only with respect to a powerplant which is not, at the time the proposed order is issued, covered by a final rule issued under section 11 So in original. Probably should be “subsection”. (b).
(b)(1)The Secretary may prohibit, by rule, the use of natural gas or petroleum under section 8341(b) of this title in existing electric powerplants.
(2)Each powerplant to be covered by any final rule issued under this subsection shall be specifically identified in the proposed rule published under section 8411(b) of this title.
(3)In prescribing any final rule under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into account any special circumstances or characteristics of each category of powerplants (such as the intermittent use, size, age, or geographic location of such powerplants). Any such rules shall not apply in the case of any existing electric powerplant with respect to which a comparable prohibition was issued by order.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(9)(A), (B), struck out “or installation” after “powerplant” in two places and “or 8342” after “section 8341(b) or (c)”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(9)(A), struck out “or installation” after “powerplant”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(9)(C), struck out par. (3) which read as follows: “(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall not issue a final order under this subsection to any powerplant if it is demonstrated that such powerplant would have been granted an exemption if such prohibition had been established by a final rule pursuant to subsection (b) rather than by order pursuant to this subsection, except that if a temporary exemption would have been granted, such a final order may be issued but may not take effect until such time as the temporary exemption would have terminated. “(B) In any case in which an order is not issued by reason of subparagraph (A) or in which the

Effective Date

of such order is delayed under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall take such steps as may be necessary to assure the installation involved complies with the same requirements (including provisions of section 8354(a) of this title) as would have been applicable if an exemption had been granted based upon the grounds for which the order is not issued or the

Effective Date

of which is delayed.” Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(9)(D), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “The Secretary may, by rule, prohibit the use of natural gas or petroleum pursuant to section 8341(b) or 8342(a) of this title— “(A) in the case of any category of existing electric powerplants identified in such rule; and “(B) in the case of any category of existing major fuel-burning installations which have design capabilities of consuming fuel (or any mixture thereof) at a fuel heat input rate of 300 million Btu’s per hour or greater which are identified in such rule.” Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(9)(A), struck out “or installation” after “powerplant”. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100–42, § 1(c)(9)(A), (E), struck out “or installations” after “powerplants” in two places in introductory provisions, and amended last sentence generally. Prior to amendment, last sentence read as follows: “Any such rules shall not apply in the case of any existing electric powerplant with respect to which a comparable prohibition was issued by order.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 8343

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73