EPA and the Justice Department file Government's briefs in lawsuits challenging the Agency's December 2002 revising New Source Review see Regulations & Standards

Congress established the New Source Review (NSR) permitting program as part of the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments. NSR is a preconstruction permitting program that serves two important purposes.

• First, it ensures that air quality is not significantly degraded from the addition of new and modified factories, industrial boilers and power plants. In areas with unhealthy air, NSR assures that new emissions do not slow progress toward cleaner air. In areas with clean air, especially pristine areas like national parks, NSR assures that new emissions do not significantly worsen air quality.
• Second, the NSR program assures people that any large new or modified industrial source in their neighborhoods will be as clean as possible, and that advances in pollution control occur concurrently with industrial expansion.

NSR permits are legal documents that the facility owners/operators must abide by. The permit specifies what construction is allowed, what emission limits must be met, and often how the emissions source must be operated.

Basic Information - Learn the basics about NSR and the terms associated with NSR. What are permits and who issues them?

Where You Live - Find out who issues permits in your state.

Regulations & Standards - Regulations under development or recently issued as well as regulations currently in effect.

What You Can Do - You can participate in the permit process.

Publications - Publications related to NSR.

Related Links - Other sources of information about permits and air pollution.

Laws & Statutes - What parts of the Clean Air Act apply to NSR?

Policy & Guidance - A full-document-searchable compendium of NSR policy and guidance.