utility air regulatory group environmental protection agency et argued february decided october clean air act imposes permitting requirements stationary sources factories powerplants act prevention significant deterioration psd provisions make unlawful construct modify major emitting facility area psd program applies without permit major emitting facility stationary source potential emit tons per year air pollutant tons per year certain types sources facilities seeking qualify psd permit must inter alia comply emissions limitations reflect best available control technology bact pollutant subject regulation act addition title act makes unlawful operate major source wherever located without permit major source stationary source potential emit tons per year air pollutant response massachusetts epa epa promulgated emission standards new motor vehicles made stationary sources subject psd program title basis potential emit greenhouse gases recognized however requiring permits sources emissions statutory thresholds radically expand programs render unadministrable epa purported tailor programs accommodate greenhouse gases providing among things sources become newly subject psd title permitting basis potential emit greenhouse gases amounts less tons per year numerous parties including several challenged epa actions circuit dismissed petitions lack jurisdiction denied remainder held judgment affirmed part reversed part affirmed part reversed part justice scalia delivered opinion respect parts ii concluding act neither compels permits epa adopt interpretation act requiring source obtain psd title permit sole basis potential emissions pp act compel epa interpretation massachusetts held definition air pollutant includes greenhouse gases term air pollutant appears act operative provisions including psd title permitting provisions epa routinely given narrower meaning massachusetts invalidate longstanding constructions definition command regulate description universe substances epa may consider regulating act operative provisions though congress profligate use air pollutant conducive clarity presumption consistent usage context statutory term may take distinct characters association distinct statutory objects calling different implementation strategies environmental defense duke energy pp act permit epa interpretation agencies empowered resolve statutory ambiguities must operate within bounds reasonable interpretation arlington fcc epa repeatedly acknowledged applying psd title permitting requirements greenhouse gases inconsistent act structure design review relevant statutory provisions leaves doubt psd program title designed apply rationally extended beyond relative handful large sources capable shouldering heavy substantive procedural burdens epa interpretation also bring enormous transformative expansion epa regulatory authority without clear congressional authorization fda brown williamson tobacco pp epa lacked authority tailor act unambiguous numerical thresholds tons per year accommodate interpretation permitting triggers agencies must always effect unambiguously expressed intent congress national assn home builders defenders wildlife power execute laws include power revise clear statutory terms turn work practice pp epa reasonably interpreted act require sources need permits based emission conventional pollutants comply bact greenhouse gases pp concerns bact traditionally controls fundamentally unsuited regulation energy use unfounded epa guidance document bact analysis consider options energy efficiency including carbon capture storage epa contends reasonably comparable traditional bact technologies moreover assuming bact may used force improvements energy efficiency important limitations bact may work mitigate concerns unbounded regulatory authority pp epa decision require bact greenhouse gases emitted sources otherwise subject psd review general matter permissible interpretation statute chevron natural resources defense council specific phrasing bact provision requires bact pollutant subject regulation act suggest provision bear narrowing construction even text clear applying bact greenhouse gases disastrously unworkable need result dramatic expansion agency authority make epa interpretation unreasonable pp scalia announced judgment delivered opinion parts ii roberts kennedy joined opinion full thomas alito joined parts ginsburg breyer sotomayor kagan joined part breyer filed opinion concurring part dissenting part ginsburg sotomayor kagan joined alito filed opinion concurring part dissenting part thomas joined opinion notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press nos et al et al et et al et al et al justice scalia announced judgment delivered opinion respect parts ii acting pursuant clean air act stat amended environmental protection agency recently set standards emissions greenhouse gases substances believes contribute global climate change new motor vehicles must decide whether permissible epa determine regulations automatically triggered permitting requirements act stationary sources emit greenhouse gases background permitting clean air act regulates emissions stationary sources factories powerplants moving sources cars trucks aircraft litigation concerns permitting obligations imposed stationary sources titles act title charges epa formulating national ambient air quality standards naaqs air pollutants date epa issued naaqs six pollutants sulfur dioxide particulate matter nitrogen dioxide carbon monoxide ozone lead clean air act handbook domike zacaroli ed see generally cfr pt primary responsibility implementing naaqs developing state implementation plans state must designate every area within borders attainment nonattainment unclassifiable respect naaqs state implementation plan must include permitting programs stationary sources vary according classification area source proposed located stationary sources areas designated attainment unclassifiable subject act provisions relating prevention significant deterioration psd epa interprets psd provisions apply sources located areas designated attainment unclassifiable naaqs pollutant regardless whether source emits specific pollutant since inception psd program every area country designated attainment unclassifiable least one naaqs pollutant thus epa view stationary sources potentially subject psd review unlawful construct modify major emitting facility area psd program applies without first obtaining permit qualify permit facility must cause contribute violation applicable standard must comply emissions limitations reflect best available control technology bact pollutant subject regulation act act defines major emitting facility stationary source potential emit tons per year air pollutant tons per year certain types sources defines modification physical operational change causes facility emit air pollutant addition psd permitting requirements construction modification title act makes unlawful operate major source wherever located without comprehensive operating permit unlike psd program title generally impose substantive requirements instead designed facilitate compliance enforcement consolidating single document facility obligations act permit must include emissions limitations standards apply source well associated inspection monitoring reporting requirements title defines major source reference definition major stationary source turn means stationary source potential emit tons per year air pollutant epa regulations held title ii act authorize epa regulate greenhouse gas emissions new motor vehicles agency form ed emissions contribute climate change massachusetts epa quoting response decision epa embarked course regulation resulting single largest expansion scope act history clean air act handbook xxi epa first asked public notice proposed rulemaking comment agency respond massachusetts explained regulating emissions motor vehicles consequences stationary sources epa view greenhouse gases became regulated part act psd title permitting requirements apply stationary sources potential emit greenhouse gases excess statutory thresholds tons per year title tons per year psd program depending type source fed reg emissions tend orders magnitude greater emissions conventional pollutants epa projected numerous small sources previously regulated act swept psd program title including smaller industrial sources large office residential buildings hotels large retail establishments similar facilities agency warned constitute unprecedented expansion epa authority profound effect virtually every sector economy touch every household land yet still relatively ineffective reducing greenhouse gas concentrations epa announced determination regarding danger posed emissions epa found emissions new motor vehicles contribute elevated atmospheric concentrations greenhouse gases endanger public health welfare fostering global climate change fed reg hereinafter endangerment finding denominated single air pollutant combined mix six greenhouse gases identified root cause climate change carbon dioxide methane nitrous oxide hydrofluorocarbons perfluorocarbons sulfur hexafluoride source emissions measured carbon dioxide equivalent units calculated based gas global warming potential next epa issued final decision regarding prospect standards trigger permitting requirements fed reg hereinafter triggering rule epa announced beginning effective date standards motor vehicles stationary sources subject psd program title basis potential emit greenhouse gases expected epa short order promulgated emission standards passenger cars trucks passenger vehicles take effect january fed reg hereinafter tailpipe rule epa announced steps taking tailor psd program title greenhouse gases fed reg hereinafter tailoring rule steps necessary said psd program title designed regulate relatively small number large industrial sources requiring permits sources emissions statutory thresholds radically expand programs making unadministrable unrecognizable congress designed epa nonetheless rejected calls exclude greenhouse gases entirely programs asserting act ambiguous respect need cover sources either psd title program instead epa adopted approach said appl psd title threshold levels close statutory levels possible quickly possible least certain point epa said consist least three steps step january june source become newly subject psd program title solely basis emissions however sources required obtain permits anyway emission conventional pollutants anyway sources need comply bact greenhouse gases emitted gases significant amounts defined least tons per year ibid step july june sources potential emit least tons per year greenhouse gases subject psd title permitting construction operation psd permitting modifications increase emissions least tons per year step beginning july epa said might might reduce permitting thresholds though tons per year might might establish permanent exemptions sources beyond step epa promised complete another round rulemaking april take action address small sources might might include establishing permanent exemptions epa codified steps cfr psd title codified commitments regarding step beyond see tailoring rule decision epa issued final step rule decided lower thresholds established step least fed reg decision numerous parties including several filed petitions review circuit challenging epa actions appeals dismissed petitions lack jurisdiction denied remainder coalition responsible regulation epa per curiam first upheld endangerment finding tailpipe rule next held epa interpretation psd permitting requirement applying regulated air pollutant including greenhouse gases compelled statute also found crystal clear psd permittees must install bact greenhouse gases deemed petitioners arguments psd program insufficiently applicable title held forfeited challenges epa greenhouse interpretation title finally held petitioners without article iii standing challenge epa efforts limit reach psd program title triggering tailoring rules denied rehearing en banc judges brown kavanaugh dissenting etc app wl granted six petitions certiorari agreed decide one question epa permissibly determined regulation greenhouse gas emissions new motor vehicles triggered permitting requirements clean air act stationary sources emit greenhouse gases ii analysis litigation presents two distinct challenges epa stance permitting stationary sources first must decide whether epa permissibly determined source may subject psd title permitting requirements sole basis source potential emit greenhouse gases second must decide whether epa permissibly determined source already subject psd program emission conventional pollutants anyway source may required limit emissions employing best available control technology greenhouse gases solicitor general joins issue points evidently regards second important informs us anyway sources account roughly american emissions compared additional anyway sources epa sought regulate steps tailoring rule tr oral arg review epa interpretations clean air act using standard set forth chevron natural resources defense council chevron presume statute ambiguous respect prescribes congress empowered agency resolve ambiguity question reviewing whether agency acted reasonably thus stayed within bounds statutory authority arlington fcc slip emphasis deleted psd title triggers first decide whether epa permissibly interpreted statute provide source may required obtain psd title permit sole basis potential emissions epa thought conclusion source emissions may necessitate psd title permit followed act unambiguous language appeals agreed held statute compelled epa interpretation disagree statute compelled epa interpretation respect neither psd program title appeals reasoned way flawed syllogism massachusetts general definition air pollutant includes greenhouse gases act requires permits major emitters air pollutant therefore act requires permits major emitters greenhouse gases conclusion follows premises air pollutants referred provisions minor premise air pollutants encompassed definition interpreted massachusetts major premise yet one least epa endorses proposition obviously untenable definition says air pollutant air pollution agent combination agents including physical chemical biological radioactive substance matter emitted otherwise enters ambient air massachusetts held definition includes greenhouse gases embraces airborne compounds whatever stripe term air pollutant appears act operative provisions epa routinely given narrower meaning certainly true provisions require psd title permitting major emitters air pollutant since epa regulations interpreted air pollutant psd permitting trigger limited regulated air pollutants fed reg codified amended cfr class much narrower massachusetts airborne compounds whatever stripe since epa informally taken position regard title permitting trigger position agency ultimately incorporated regulations issue see memorandum lydia wegman deputy director office air quality planning standards air division director regions pp apr tailoring rule amending cfr interpretations appropriate plain day act envision elaborate burdensome permitting process major emitters steam oxygen harmless airborne substances takes cheek epa insist possibly give air pollutant reasonable meaning psd title contexts precisely decades places act epa inferred statutory context generic reference air pollutants encompass every substance falling within definition examples abound act authorizes epa enforce new source performance standards nsps source promulgation standards source undergoes physical operational change increases emission air pollutant epa interprets provision limited air pollutants epa promulgated new source performance standards fed reg codified amended cfr fed reg codified amended cfr act requires permit construction operation nonattainment area source potential emit tons per year air pollutant epa interprets provision limited pollutants area designated nonattainment fed reg promulgating cfr amended act directs epa require enhanced monitoring submission compliance certifications source potential emit tons per year air pollutant epa interprets provision limited regulated pollutants fed reg codified cfr act requires certain sources air pollutants interfere visibility undergo retrofitting potential emit tons per year pollutant epa interprets provision limited air pollutants fed reg codified cfr pt app although limitations nowhere found definition instance epa concluded psd title context statute using air pollutant massachusetts broad sense mean airborne substance whatsoever massachusetts invalidate longstanding constructions case hold epa must always regulate greenhouse gases air pollutant everywhere term appears statute epa must ground reasons action inaction statute emphasis added rather reasoning divorced statutory text epa inaction regard title ii sufficiently grounded statute said part nothing act suggested regulating greenhouse gases title conflict statutory design title ii compel epa regulate way extreme counterintuitive contrary sense require epa take modest step adding standards roster emission regulations ibid massachusetts strip epa authority exclude greenhouse gases class regulable air pollutants parts act inclusion inconsistent statutory scheme definition gave sweeping capacious interpretation command regulate description universe substances epa may consider regulating act operative provisions massachusetts foreclose agency use statutory context infer certain act provisions use air pollutant denote every conceivable airborne substance may sensibly encompassed within particular regulatory program certain amici felicitously put massachusetts rejected epa categorical contention greenhouse gases pollutants purposes act embrace epa current equally categorical position greenhouse gases must air pollutants purposes regardless statutory context brief administrative law professors et al amici curiae sure congress profligate use air pollutant meant obviously narrower definition conducive clarity one ordinarily assumes identical words used different parts act intended meaning environmental defense duke energy respect countless others act far chef legislative draftsmanship epa must best bearing mind canon statutory construction words statute must read context view place overall statutory scheme fda brown williamson tobacco reiterated day decided massachusetts presumption consistent usage context statutory term even one defined statute may take distinct characters association distinct statutory objects calling different implementation strategies duke energy supra need pass validity limiting constructions epa given term air pollutant throughout act merely observe taken together belie epa rigid insistence interpreting psd title permitting requirements bound definition inclusion greenhouse gases matter incompatible inclusion programs regulatory structure sum insuperable textual barrier epa interpreting air pollutant permitting triggers psd title encompass pollutants emitted quantities enable sensibly regulated statutory thresholds exclude atypical pollutants like greenhouse gases emitted vast quantities inclusion radically transform programs render unworkable determined epa mistaken thinking act compelled interpretation psd title triggers next consider agency alternative position interpretation justified exercise discretion adopt reasonable construction statute tailoring rule conclude epa interpretation permissible even chevron deferential framework agencies must operate within bounds reasonable interpretation arlington slip reasonable statutory interpretation must account specific context language used broader context statute whole robinson shell oil statutory provision may seem ambiguous isolation often clarified remainder statutory scheme one permissible meanings produces substantive effect compatible rest law sav assn tex timbers inwood forest associates thus agency interpretation inconsisten design structure statute whole university tex southwestern medical center nassar slip merit deference epa repeatedly acknowledged applying psd title permitting requirements greenhouse gases inconsistent fact overthrow act structure design tailoring rule epa described calamitous consequences interpreting act way psd program annual permit applications jump nearly annual administrative costs swell million billion delays issuing permits become common causing construction projects grind halt nationwide tailoring rule picture title equally bleak number sources required permits jump fewer million annual administrative costs balloon million billion collectively newly covered sources face permitting costs billion moreover great majority additional sources brought psd title programs small sources congress expect need undergo permitting epa stated results contrary congressional intent severely undermine congress sought accomplish necessitated much increase permitting thresholds set forth statute like epa think beyond reasonable debate requiring permits sources based solely emission greenhouse gases levels set forth statute incompatible substance congress regulatory scheme brown williamson brief review relevant statutory provisions leaves doubt psd program title designed apply rationally extended beyond relative handful large sources capable shouldering heavy substantive procedural burdens start psd program imposes numerous costly requirements sources required apply permits among things applicant must make available detailed scientific analysis source potential impacts demonstrate source contribute violation applicable pollution standard identify use best available control technology regulated pollutant emits permitting authority state usually also bears share burden must grant deny permit within year time must hold public hearing application surprisingly epa acknowledges psd review complicated sometimes contentious process suitable hundreds larger sources tens thousands smaller sources fed reg title contains comparable substantive requirements imposes elaborate procedural mandates requires applicant submit within year becoming subject title permit application compliance plan describing comply applicable requirements act certify compliance annually submit inspection entry monitoring reporting requirements procedural burdens permitting authority epa also significant permitting authority must hold public hearing application must forward application proposed permit epa neighboring respond writing comments fails issue deny permit within months interested party sue require decision without additional delay interested party also petition epa block issuance permit epa must grant deny petition within days decision may challenged federal epa wrote title finely crafted thousands millions sources tailoring rule fact epa interpretation psd title triggers place plainly excessive demands limited governmental resources alone good reason rejecting reason epa interpretation also unreasonable bring enormous transformative expansion epa regulatory authority without clear congressional authorization agency claims discover statute unheralded power regulate significant portion american economy brown williamson typically greet announcement measure skepticism expect congress speak clearly wishes assign agency decisions vast economic political significance see also mci telecommunications american telephone telegraph industrial union american petroleum institute plurality opinion power require permits construction modification tens thousands operation millions small sources nationwide falls comfortably within class authorizations reluctant read ambiguous statutory text moreover epa assertion authority confront singular situation agency laying claim extravagant statutory power national economy time strenuously asserting authority claimed render statute unrecognizable congress designed tailoring rule since hold statute compel epa interpretation patently unreasonable say outrageous epa insist seizing expansive power admits statute designed epa thought despite foregoing problems make interpretation reasonable adjusting levels source emissions oblige undergo psd title permitting although act uncertain terms requires permits sources potential emit tons per year relevant pollutant epa tailoring rule wrote new threshold tons per year greenhouse gases since appeals thought statute unambiguously made greenhouse gases capable triggering psd title held petitioners lacked article iii standing challenge tailoring rule rule injure petitioners merely relaxed statutory requirements however hold epa interpretation triggers compelled epa essentially admitted interpretation unreasonable without tailoring consider validity tailoring rule conclude epa rewriting statutory thresholds impermissible therefore validate agency interpretation triggering provisions agency power tailor legislation bureaucratic policy goals rewriting unambiguous statutory terms agencies exercise discretion interstices created statutory silence ambiguity must always effect unambiguously expressed intent congress national assn home builders defenders wildlife quoting chevron hard imagine statutory term less ambiguous precise numerical thresholds act requires psd title permitting epa replaced numbers others choosing went well beyond bounds statutory authority arlington slip emphasis deleted solicitor general defend tailoring rule exercise epa enforcement discretion tailoring rule announcement epa refusal enforce statutory permitting requirements purports alter requirements establish force law conduct violate act alteration statutory requirements crucial epa tailoring efforts without small entities potential emit greenhouse gases amounts exceeding statutory thresholds remained subject citizen suits authorized act enjoin construction modification operation impose civil penalties per day violation cfr epa recently affirmed independent enforcement authority furnished provision displaced permitting authority decision pursue enforcement fed reg solicitor general therefore quite right acknowledge availability citizen suits made necessary epa seeking mitigate unreasonableness interpretation go beyond merely exercising enforcement discretion see tr oral arg similar reasons morton ruiz solicitor general points best case supporting tailoring rule see tr oral arg irrelevant ruiz congress appropriated funds bureau indian affairs spend providing assistance throughout impose geographical limitation availability general assistance benefits although held bureau deny benefits indians published eligibility criteria stated dictum bureau followed proper administrative procedures create reasonable classifications eligibility requirements order allocate limited funds available dictum stands unremarkable proposition agency may adopt policies prioritize expenditures within bounds established congress see also lincoln vigil nothing ruiz remotely authorizes agency modify unambiguous requirements imposed federal statute agency confronting resource constraints may change conduct change law recognize authority claimed epa tailoring rule deal severe blow constitution separation powers system government congress makes laws president acting times agencies like epa faithfully execute art ii see medellĂ­n texas power executing laws necessarily includes authority responsibility resolve questions left open congress arise law administration include power revise clear statutory terms turn work practice see barnhart sigmon coal agency lacked authority develop new guidelines assign liability manner inconsistent unambiguous statute tailoring rule epa asserts newfound authority regulate millions small sources including retail stores offices apartment buildings shopping centers schools churches decide ongoing basis without regard thresholds prescribed congress many sources regulate willing stand dock wave goodbye epa embarks multiyear voyage discovery reaffirm core principle agency may rewrite clear statutory terms suit sense statute operate epa therefore lacked authority tailor act unambiguous numerical thresholds accommodate interpretation permitting triggers instead need rewrite clear provisions statute alerted epa taken wrong interpretive turn agencies free adopt unreasonable interpretations statutory provisions edit statutory provisions mitigate unreasonableness app wl kavanaugh dissenting denial rehearing en banc tailoring rule save epa interpretation triggers interpretation impermissible bact anyway sources reasons given epa overstepped statutory authority decided source become subject psd title permitting reason emissions anyway sources need permits based emissions conventional pollutants particulate matter consider whether epa reasonably interpreted act require sources comply best available control technology emission standards greenhouse gases obtain psd permit source must subject best available control technology pollutant subject regulation act emits act defines bact emission limitation based maximum degree reduction pollutant subject regulation achievable application production processes available methods systems techniques including fuel cleaning clean fuels treatment innovative fuel combustion techniques bact determined basis taking account energy environmental economic impacts costs ibid petitioners urge us hold epa may never require bact greenhouse gases even source must undergo psd review based emissions conventional pollutants bact fundamentally unsuited regulation bact say traditionally controls catalytic converters particle collectors applying greenhouse gases make regulating energy use enable regulators control every aspect facility operation design right light bulbs factory cafeteria brief petitioner manufacturers working group greenhouse gas regulation et al see joint reply brief petitioners pp bact greenhouse gases becomes unbounded exercise regulation everything efficient light bulbs basic industrial processes see brief calpine amicus curiae calpine experience sources analysis small part overall permitting process epa published guidance document lends credence petitioners fears least initially compulsory improvements energy efficiency foundation bact traditional controls either used added become available psd title permitting guidance greenhouse gases mar hereinafter guidance see peloso dobbins greenhouse gas psd permitting year review tex env controls tend prove infeasible energy efficiency measures dominate bact controls approved epa epa guidance also bact analysis consider options energy efficiency carbon capture storage guidance epa argues carbon capture reasonably comparable traditional bact technologies petitioners dispute moreover assuming without deciding bact may used force improvements energy efficiency important limitations bact may work mitigate petitioners concerns unbounded regulatory authority one bact based control technology applicant proposed facility therefore long held bact used order fundamental redesign facility see sierra club epa pennsauken resource recovery facility eab another epa long interpreted bact required pollutants source emits see fed reg accordingly epa acknowledges bact may used require reductions facility demand energy electric grid guidance finally epa guidance suggests bact require every conceivable change result minor improvements energy efficiency aforementioned light bulbs guidance explains permitting authorities instead consider whether proposed regulatory burden outweighs reduction emissions achieved concentrate facility equipment uses largest amounts energy ibid question us whether epa decision require bact greenhouse gases emitted sources otherwise subject psd review general matter permissible interpretation statute chevron conclude text bact provision far less text psd title permitting triggers bact required pollutant subject regulation chapter entire act phrase circuit wrote years ago seem readily susceptible misinterpretation alabama power costle whereas dubious breadth air pollutant permitting triggers suggests role agency judgment identifying subset pollutants covered particular regulatory program issue specific phrasing bact provision suggests necessary judgment already made congress wider statutory context likewise suggest bact provision bear narrowing construction indication act elsewhere uses epa interpreted pollutant subject regulation chapter mean anything says even text clear applying bact greenhouse gases disastrously unworkable need result dramatic expansion agency authority convince us epa interpretation unreasonable talking extending epa jurisdiction millions previously unregulated entities moderately increasing demands epa state permitting authority make entities already subject regulation yet clear epa demands significantly different character traditionally associated psd review short record us establish bact provision written incapable sensibly applied greenhouse gases acknowledge potential bact lead unreasonable unanticipated degree regulation decision taken endorsement aspects epa current approach free rein future regulatory application bact distinct context narrow holding nothing statute categorically prohibits epa interpreting bact provision apply greenhouse gases emitted anyway sources however epa may require anyway source comply bact source emits de minimis amount greenhouse gases noted tailoring rule applies bact source emits greenhouse gases excess tons per year rule makes clear epa arrive number identifying de minimis level see nn supra epa may establish appropriate de minimis threshold bact required source emissions hold tons per year necessarily exceeds true de minimis level epa must justify selection proper grounds cf alabama power supra sum hold epa exceeded statutory authority interpreted clean air act require psd title permitting stationary sources based emissions specifically agency may treat greenhouse gases pollutant purposes defining major emitting facility modification thereof psd context major source title context extent regulations purport invalid epa may however continue treat greenhouse gases pollutant subject regulation chapter purposes requiring bact anyway sources judgment appeals affirmed part reversed part ordered opinion breyer nos et al et al et al et et al et al et al et al et al et al et al writs certiorari appeals district columbia circuit june justice breyer justice ginsburg justice sotomayor justice kagan join concurring part dissenting part massachusetts epa held greenhouse gases fall within clean air act general definition term air pollutant also held consequently environmental protection agency empowered required title ii act regulate greenhouse gas emissions mobile sources cars trucks decides greenhouse gases contribute air pollution may reasonably anticipated endanger public health welfare epa determined greenhouse gases endanger human health welfare fed reg endangerment finding issued regulations mobile emissions fed reg tailpipe rule cases take given decision massachusetts act general definition air pollutant includes greenhouse gases one questions posed cases whether gases fall within scope phrase air pollutant phrase used specific provisions act issue answer ante disagree clean air act provisions issue title prevention significant deterioration psd program et title permitting regime et seq contrast title ii titles apply stationary sources power plants factories psd program major emitting facilities constructed must meet certain requirements including obtaining permit imposes emissions limitations using best available control technology pollutant subject regulation act emitted facility title requires major source obtain operating permit cases concern definitions major emitting facility major source defined mean stationary source emits threshold quantity air pollutant see major emitting facility major source simplify exposition refer psd program definition major emitting facility parallel analysis applies title used psd provisions term emitting facility means list specific categories stationary sources air pollutants emit potential emit one hundred tons per year air pollutant term also includes source potential emit two hundred fifty tons per year air pollutant simplify ignore reference specific types source emit least tons per year tpy air pollutant effect dealing statute says psd program regulatory requirements must applied stationary source potential emit two hundred fifty tons per year air pollutant interpretive difficulty cases arises definition use phrase two hundred fifty tons per year call tpy threshold applied greenhouse gases tpy far low threshold explains tens thousands stationary sources emit large quantities one greenhouse gas carbon dioxide see ante apply programs issue sources extremely expensive burdensome counterproductive perhaps impossible also contravene congress intent programs coverage limited large sources whose emissions substantial enough justify regulatory burdens ibid epa recognized much addressed problem issuing regulation tailoring rule purports raise coverage threshold greenhouse gases statutory figure tpy tpy order keep programs coverage limited relatively small number large industrial sources fed reg see tailoring rule solves practical problems caused tpy threshold statute language statute specifies definite number says facilities covered number must meet program requirements statute says nothing agency discretion change number done given statute language epa exempt regulation sources emit less tpy greenhouse gases also emit regulated pollutants threshold levels answers pointing regulation tpy threshold produce absurd results refusing read statute compelling results consequently interpreting phrase air pollutant containing implicit exception greenhouse gases emphasis added put differently reads statute defining major emitting facility mean stationary sources potential emit two hundred fifty tons per year air pollutant except air pollutants carbon dioxide respect regulation threshold impractical absurd sweep smaller sources congress mean cover see ante insuperable textual barrier epa interpreting air pollutant permitting triggers psd title encompass pollutants emitted quantities enable sensibly regulated statutory thresholds exclude atypical pollutants like greenhouse gases emitted vast quantities inclusion radically transform programs render unworkable written agree word used statute normally mean universe cf fcc nextwave personal communications breyer dissenting customers refer every customer every business world rather eneral terms used particular occasions often carry implied restrictions scope courts must interpret word like words context judge learned hand pointed interpreting another statute many years ago best reach meaning always recourse underlying purpose guide trying project upon specific occasion think persons actuated purpose dealt presented time borella borden pursuit underlying purpose may sometimes require us abandon literal interpretation word like law long recognized terms admit unwritten limitations exceptions legal philosophers like point statute providing hoever shall willfully take life another shall punished need encompass man kills must ordinance imposing fines upon occupy public parking spot two hours penalize driver unable move parade see fuller case speluncean explorers harv rev see also kirby wall holding statute forbidding knowing willful obstruction mail contains implicit exception permitting local sheriff arrest mail carrier maxim cessante ratione legis cessat ipse lex law rationale ceases apply law recent origin see zadvydas davis citing coke institutes green liter cranch story cessante ratione cessat ipsa lex also agree point generic reference air pollutants clean air act need encompass every substance falling within definition construed massachusetts see ante notes epa interpreted phrase air pollutant used several times act limited air pollutants epa promulgated new source performance standards portion act dealing standards limited air pollutants part act concerned deleterious effects visibility limited pollutants area designated nonattainment part act aimed regions fail attain air quality standards ibid agree way avoid absurd otherwise impermissible result cases create atextual greenhouse gas exception phrase air pollutant word makes earlier appearance definitional provision defines major emitting facility mean source potential emit two hundred fifty tons per year air pollutant emphasis added linguistic matter one easily read implicit exception greenhouse gas emissions phrase source phrase air pollutant given purposes psd program act whole well specific roles different parts statutory definition finding flexibility source far sensible route finding air pollutant implicit exception propose reads almost word word except location exception shifted repeat reads definition major emitting facility referred source potential emit two hundred fifty tons per year air pollutant except air pollutants carbon dioxide respect regulation threshold impractical absurd sweep smaller sources congress mean cover simply move implicit exception italicized applies source rather air pollutant source potential emit two hundred fifty tons per year air pollutant except sources emitting unmanageably small amounts greenhouse gases respect regulation threshold impractical absurd sweep smaller sources congress mean cover legal administrative functional perspective perspective assumes congress merely trying arrange words paper seeking achieve purpose way reading statute sensible one one thing reading consistent specific purpose underlying tpy threshold specified statute purpose number prevent regulation dangerous air pollutants sensibly regulated particular threshold though effect reading gives threshold rather purpose limit psd program obligations larger sources exempting many small sources whose emissions low enough imposing burdensome regulatory requirements senseless thus accompanying senate report explains psd program reasonable necessary large sources new electrical generating plants new steel mills procedure prove costly potentially unreasonable imposed construction storage facilities small gasoline jobber construction new heating plant junior college principal sponsor clean air act amendments issue senator edmund muskie told senate program cover houses dairies farms highways hospitals schools grocery stores sources cong rec epa exercising legal authority entitled chevron natural resources defense council understood threshold purpose light explained congress objective limit psd program large industrial sources sources primary cause pollution problems question sources resources comply psd requirements congress mechanism limiting psd tpy threshold limitations focused primarily naaqs pollutants air pollutants epa issued national ambient air quality standard title act see epa eme homer city generation slip congress considered sources emit naaqs pollutants quantities generally large industrial sources intended psd limited tailoring rule fed reg similarly acknowledges psd program title designed apply rationally extended beyond relative handful large sources capable shouldering heavy substantive procedural burdens ante see also alabama power costle cadc congress intention identify facilities due size financially able bear substantial regulatory costs imposed psd provisions group primarily responsible emission deleterious pollutants befoul nation air implicit exception serve statutory purpose going implicit exception reads phrase air pollutant contrast goes well beyond limited congressional objective nothing statutory text legislative history common sense suggests congress imposed tpy threshold trying undermine deliberate decision use broad language air pollutant removing substances rather facilities psd program coverage another thing exception serves flexible nature clean air act observed massachusetts hile congresses drafted act might appreciated possibility burning fossil fuels lead global warming understand without regulatory flexibility changing circumstances scientific developments soon render clean air act obsolete recognized broad language definition air pollutant reflects intentional effort confer flexibility necessary forestall obsolescence ibid decision read greenhouse gases psd program drains act flexibility chips away decision massachusetts sense make read act generally granting epa authority regulate greenhouse gas emissions read denying power respect programs large stationary sources issue anomalous read act require epa regulate air pollutants pose previously unforeseen threats human health welfare tons per year sensible regulatory line chemical regulatory happenstance higher line must drawn anomalous read unwritten exception important phrase statutory definition air pollutant similar unwritten exception less important language particular number used statute well implicit exception preferred produces anomalies exception propose creates none addition interpretation propose leaves epa sort discretion interstitial matters congress likely intended retain interpretation gives epa nothing authority exempt sources regulation insofar agency reasonably determines applying psd program expand program much contravene congress intent sort decision involves agency technical expertise administrative experience kind decision congress typically leaves agencies make cf barnhart walton enumerating factors take indicate congress intends agency exercise discretion provided chevron read act grant discretion read furthering congress public interest effective less wasteful regulation last means least exception advances act overall purpose broad purpose set forth beginning statute protect enhance quality nation air resources promote public health welfare productive capacity population see also purpose psd program particular protect public health welfare actual potential adverse effect administrator judgment may reasonably anticipate occur air pollution language act referring effects welfare includes effects weather climate expert agency charged administering act determined endangerment finding greenhouse gases endanger human health welfare sensible regulation industrial emissions pollutants core purpose behind act broad greenhouse gases exception reads statute unnecessarily undercuts purpose narrow exception leave agency tools needs agree holding stationary sources subject psd program emit pollutants quantities statutory threshold facilities refers anyway sources must meet best available control technology requirement respect greenhouse gas emissions therefore join part opinion holding epa interpret language issue cover facilities emit tpy greenhouse gases virtue emissions respectfully dissent opinion alito nos et al et al et al et et al et al et al et al et al et al et al writs certiorari appeals district columbia circuit june justice alito justice thomas joins concurring part dissenting part massachusetts epa considered whether greenhouse gases fall within clean air act general definition air pollutant environmental protection agency cautioned us key provisions act cogently applied greenhouse gas emissions brief federal respondent massachusetts epa brushed warning aside little trouble concluding act sweeping definition pollutant encompasses greenhouse gases believed massachusetts epa wrongly decided time cases expose flaws decision present cases show trying fit greenhouse gases key provisions clean air act involves little trouble cases concern provisions act relating prevention significant deterioration psd well title act order make provisions apply greenhouse gases way produce absurd results epa effectively amended act act contains specific emissions thresholds trigger psd title coverage epa crossed figures enacted congress substituted figures agree epa neither required permitted take extraordinary step therefore join parts opinion ii agree however conclusion terms anyway sources sources subject psd title permitting result emission conventional pollutants must install best available control technology bact greenhouse gases case psd title thresholds trying fit greenhouse gases bact analysis badly distorts scheme congress adopted gives two main reasons concluding bact applies anyway sources one based text one based practical considerations neither convincing respect text curious departed literal interpretation term pollutant part turns heels adopts literal interpretation part coverage thresholds issue part apply pollutant act general definition term broad massachusetts epa supra held definition covers greenhouse gases disturb holding nevertheless concludes used provision triggering psd coverage term pollutant actually means pollutant greenhouse gas part relevant statutory provision says bact must installed pollutant subject regulation act term pollutant means pollutant greenhouse gas effectively concludes part term pollutant subject regulation act mean pollutant greenhouse gas subject regulation act subject regulation act literalism selective results strange disjointed regulatory scheme interpretation source emit unlimited quantity greenhouse gases without triggering need psd permit might congress wanted allow likely explanation psd permitting process simply suited use regulating particular pollutant makes little sense require installation bact greenhouse gases instances source happens required obtain permit due emission qualifying quantity pollutant regulated act second reason holding bact applies anyway sources belief done without disastrous consequences time tell whether hope well founded seems clear bact analysis fundamentally incompatible regulation emissions least two important reasons first bact looks effects covered pollutants area source located psd program implemented emission limitations measures necessary prevent significant deterioration air quality region emphasis added clean air act provides bact must identified basis necessarily means local conditions must taken account reason act instructs epa issue regulations requiring analysis ambient air quality site proposed major emitting ity area potentially affected emissions facility pollutant regulated act emphasis added act also requires public hearing air quality proposed site areas may affected emissions facility pollutant subject regulation act emitted facility emphasis added accordingly bact required greenhouse gases act demands impact gases area surrounding site must monitored explored public hearing considered part permitting process effects greenhouse gases however global local see psd title permitting guidance greenhouse gases mar hereinafter guidance result epa declared psd permit applicants permitting officials may disregard provisions act fed reg second part analysis required bact permitting authority must balance environmental benefit expected result installation available control measure adverse consequences may result including negative impact environment energy conservation economy epa admitted done basis respect greenhouse gases clean air act makes clear bact must determined basis taking account energy environmental economic impacts costs implement directive epa adopted framework making bact determination see new source review workshop manual prevention significant deterioration nonattainment area permitting fourth step analysis potentially applicable feasible control technologies candidates selection bact particular source eliminated consideration based collateral impacts adverse environmental effects adverse effects energy consumption economy recently epa provided guidance permitting authorities regarding treatment emissions framework epa guidance demonstrates insuperable problem results attempt made apply framework greenhouse gas emissions noted step framework permitting authority must balance positive effect likely result requiring particular source install particular technology variety negative effects likely occur step taken case greenhouse gases permitting authority make individualized determination epa instructs permitting authorities take consideration adverse effects epa found result overall increase greenhouse gases atmosphere include increased risk dangerous heat waves hurricanes floods wildfires drought well risks agriculture forestry water resources guidance epa admits simply possible permitting authority calculate meaningful way degree potential reduction greenhouse gas emissions individual source might reduce risks without making calculation even rough way permitting authority clean air act epa framework demand compare benefits specified reduction emission greenhouse gases particular source adverse environmental economic effects might result mandating reduction suppose example permitting authority must decide whether mandate change decreases source emission greenhouse gases increases emission conventional pollutant negative effect public health permitting authority decide whether require change epa advice hen considering environmental impacts particular level ghg greenhouse gas reduction collateral increase another regulated nsr pollutant rather attempting determine characterize specific environmental impacts ghgs emitted particular locations epa recommends permitting authorities focus amount ghg emission reductions may gained lost employing particular control strategy compares environmental impacts resulting collateral emissions increase regulated nsr pollutants guidance best make means permitting authorities even try assess net impact public health instead comparing positive negative public health effects particular option permitting authorities instructed compare adverse public health effects increasing emissions conventional pollutants amount reduction source emissions greenhouse gases without knowing positive effects latter meaningless comparison epa tries ameliorate problem noting permitting authorities entitled great deal discretion guidance without comprehensible standard mean arbitrary inconsistent decisionmaking clean air act bact analysis like rest clean air act developed use regulating emission conventional pollutants simply suited use respect greenhouse gases therefore respectfully dissent part opinion footnotes together american chemistry council et al environmental protection agency et manufacturers working group greenhouse gas regulation et al environmental protection agency et southeastern legal foundation et al environmental protection agency et texas et al environmental protection agency et chamber commerce et al environmental protection agency et also certiorari footnotes although statute sets numerical thresholds tons per year emissions make facility major specify much physical operational change must increase emissions constitute modification say much given regulated pollutant major emitting facility must emit subject bact pollutant epa however established numerical thresholds facility emissions pollutant increases therein considered de minimis purposes see cfr see also alabama power costle cadc recognizing authority epa cf wisconsin dept revenue william wrigley minimis non curat lex part established background legal principles enactments adopted comments executive branch agencies reprinted notice echoed concerns see fed reg departments agriculture commerce transportation energy noting epa exercis de facto zoning authority control thousands formerly local private decisions impacting construction schools hospitals commercial residential development council economic advisers office science technology policy stating mall manufacturing facilities schools shopping centers subject full major source permitting council environmental quality noting prospect essentially automatic immediate regulation vast range community business activity small business administration finding difficult overemphasize potentially disruptive burdensome new regulatory regime small entities office buildings retail establishments hotels schools prisons private hospitals epa stated adoption threshold emissions requiring bact modifications requiring permits exercise authority establish de minimis exceptions truly de minimis level might well tons per year tailoring rule cf supra appeals held petitioners arguments applied psd program petitioners therefore forfeited challenges epa greenhouse interpretation title solicitor general defend appeals ruling forfeiture concedes arguments petitioners made apply title well psd program see brief federal respondents agree satisfied arguments also made see brief state petitioners et al etc cadc pp brief petitioners et al etc cadc pp decision american elec power connecticut suggest otherwise held act authorization epa establish performance standards powerplant emissions displaced right might otherwise existed seek abatement emissions slip authorization referred given nsps program part act issue one party american electric power argued ill suited accommodating greenhouse gases course litigation several possible limiting constructions psd trigger proposed judge kavanaugh argued plausible epa read air pollutant psd context limited six naaqs pollutants see coalition responsible regulation epa etc cadc app wl opinion dissenting denial rehearing en banc petitioners make slightly different argument psd permitting required major emitting facilities area psd program applies relevant pollutants naaqs pollutants area question designated attainment unclassifiable approach bring epa interpretation psd trigger line longstanding interpretation permitting requirements nonattainment areas others maintain air pollutant psd provision limited air pollutants localized effects air quality foreclose epa courts considering constructions future need today additional points bear mentioning solicitor general conjectures epa might eventually alter longstanding interpretation potential emit order reduce number sources required permits statutory thresholds neither agency given us reason believe exists plausible reading potential emit epa willingly adopt eliminate unreasonableness epa interpretation given information ability possible streamlining techniques alluded epa general electronic permitting reduce administrability problems identified event none techniques address fundamental problem epa claiming regulatory authority millions small entities acknowledges act seek regulate finally solicitor general suggests incompatibility greenhouse gases psd program title results chiefly inclusion carbon dioxide aggregate pollutant defined epa decide cases basis pollutant greenhouse gases epa defined regulated express view analysis might change epa define differently justice breyer argues post opinion concurring part dissenting part statutory permitting thresholds tons per year provide sensible regulatory line epa entitled read unwritten exception particular number used statute apparently means agency entitled substitute dramatically higher number aware principle administrative law allow agency rewrite clear statutory term shudder contemplate effect principle democratic governance justice breyer however claims perceive difference reading statute exclude greenhouse gases term air pollutant permitting triggers reading statute exclude sources emitting less tons per year statutory phrase source potential emit two hundred fifty tons per year see post two scarcely apart explained epa agrees statutory context makes plain act operative provisions use air pollutant denote less full range pollutants covered definition see part supra therefore incumbent epa specify pollutants encompassed term context particular program reasonably light program overall regulatory scheme ambiguity whatsoever specific numerical permitting thresholds thus room epa exercise discretion selecting different threshold justice alito argues bact fundamentally incompatible greenhouse gases two reasons post opinion concurring part dissenting part first bact requires consideration ambient air quality proposed site areas may affected emissions proposed facility pollutant subject regulation chapter see also obvious requirement apply even whether apply greenhouse gases post possibility requirement may inoperative greenhouse gases convince us must categorically excluded bact even though indisputably pollutant subject regulation second justice alito argues epa guidance implement bact recipe arbitrary inconsistent decisionmaking post reviewing epa guidance cases say impossible epa state permitting authorities devise rational ways complying statute directive determine bact greenhouse gases basis taking account energy environmental economic impacts costs footnotes epa describes steps follows applicant must identify available control options potentially applicable consulting epa bact clearinghouse along reliable sources technical feasibility control options identified step eliminated based technical infeasibility control technologies ranked based control effectiveness considering percentage pollutant removed expected emission rate new source review nsr pollutant expected emission reduction regulated nsr pollutant output based emissions limit control technologies eliminated based collateral impacts energy impacts environmental impacts solid hazardous waste water discharge control device emissions air toxics regulated pollutants economic impacts effective control option eliminated step proposed bact pollutant emission unit review new source review pollutants pollutants national ambient air quality standard set others sulphur dioxide see cfr xxxvii think bact applies anyway sources apply limitations suggested part might lessen inconsistencies highlighted part ii opinion understanding join part