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HR 5381 112th Congress House Environmental Protection Administrative law and regulatory procedures Administrative remedies Air quality Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental regulatory procedures Evidence and witnesses Judicial review and appeals

Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reforms Act of 2012

Introduced: June 20, 2012 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 11, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
May 7, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
May 7, 2012
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reforms Act of 2012 - Amends the Clean Air Act to revise provisions concerning state petitions to exclude air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events from determinations of exceedences or violations of the national ambient air quality standards by requiring criteria used in determining if there has been a demonstration of an exceptional event to be stated with specificity in order to minimize the discretion of the Administrator in approving or disapproving such demonstration.

Requires: (1) the Administrator to develop such criteria in conjunction with input from states, and (2) such criteria to reflect the technical expertise and resources available in state and local agencies and the availability of meteorological and other monitoring data in rural areas. Authorizes such criteria to vary with respect to different regions. Requires the Administrator, in developing such criteria, to consider using an expedited or streamlined approval process and conditions under which such demonstrations may be suitable for such process.

Requires the Administrator: (1) to approve or disapprove an exceptional event demonstration within 90 days of such demonstration; or (2) if the Administrator requests additional information from a state regarding such demonstration, to approve or disapprove such demonstration within 90 days of submission of such information. Considers such demonstrations to be approved if the Administrator does not take action within such time frames. Requires: (1) such approval or disapproval to be based on a preponderance of the evidence, and (2) the Administrator to accord substantial deference to state findings on such demonstration. Authorizes the Administrator to develop and use analyses and consider evidence not provided by such demonstration. Considers such approval or disapproval to be final action subject to judicial review.

Requires the Administrator to revise regulations concerning air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events to meet the requirements of this Act within 180 days of this Act's enactment.

What's happening now May 11, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5381: Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reforms Act of 2012. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5381/
MLA
"H.R. 5381: Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reforms Act of 2012." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5381/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5381, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5381/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5381: Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reforms Act of 2012](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5381/)
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