Basic Information
About Us
EPA’s Clean Air Markets Division (CAMD) includes several market-based regulatory programs designed to improve air quality and ecosystems. The most well-known of these programs are EPA’s Acid Rain Program and the NOx Programs, which reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—compounds that adversely affect air quality, the environment, and public health. CAMD also plays an integral role in the development and implementation of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR).
Our Mission
CAMD’s mission is to improve human health and the natural environment through the skillful design, operation, and evaluation of “cap and trade” and other innovative programs that cost-effectively lower harmful air emissions and their deposition. We focus on lowering outdoor concentrations of fine particles, ozone, mercury, and other significant air emissions through programs that offer regional, national, or international solutions to problems from air emissions. Often these programs will cover power plants and other major stationary sources, such as industrial boilers, but they will also consider other important sources of emissions. The goals of CAMD programs include:
- High levels of health and environmental benefits.
- Strong technical and analytic underpinning to ensure programs solve the problems that they address.
- Accountability through sound monitoring and thorough reporting requirements that are continuously improved over time.
- Highly effective market-based mechanisms.
- Simplicity and practicality based on technical sophistication.
- Clear communication.
- Low administration costs.
- Creating public access to emissions data from utilities (SO2, NOx, CO2).
- High compliance rates.
- Cost-effective emissions reduction with reasonable economic impacts.
- Customer service orientation.
- Ongoing audits and evaluation to ensure health and environmental goals are met.
What We Do
CAMD manages various market-based regulatory programs designed to improve air quality. We use experience gathered developing and operating the market-based Acid Rain Program to address other environmental problems. Specific efforts include:
- Designing and operating cap and trade programs to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides NOx).
- Assessing emissions control technology options.
- Facilitating emissions monitoring and reporting.
- Conducting atmospheric deposition monitoring and analysis.
- Developing information systems for market programs.
- Assessing environmental and human health effects.
- Assessing benefits and costs of programs.
- Educating the public about acid rain, other regional air pollution problems, and market-based mechanisms.
- Creating public access to emissions data from utilities (SO2, NOx, CO2).
How CAMD is Organized
CAMD is one of four Divisions within EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs (OAP). CAMD is made up of four organizational areas called "Branches." Much of CAMD’s work crosses Branch boundaries.
CAMD Director: Sam Napolitano
Program Development Branch — Chief: Kevin Culligan
Develops cost-effective air pollution control programs that use market-based approaches, and works to lessen the administrative burden for sources and regulators.
Emissions Monitoring Branch — Chief: Rey Forte
Provides guidance to states and industry, and ensures that emissions are accurately and cost-effectively measured and reported on time.
Market Operations Branch — Chief: Janice Wagner
Performs the day-to-day functions required to operate market-based emissions reduction programs, such as recording allowance transfers and receiving emissions reports, and works with stakeholders to ensure that the markets operate efficiently.
Assessment and Communications Branch — Chief: Richard Haeuber
Assesses the costs and benefits (e.g., environmental, human health, and economic) of CAMD’s programs, and communicates this information to decision makers and other customers in a policy context.
Contact Us
For questions or comments, visit the CAMD Contact Us page.