Kathleen C. Bassi has represented power generation clients in appealing conditions included in Clean Air Act permits, both on the state and federal levels. She also has represented power generation clients in appealing certain provisions of the federal Clean Air Interstate Rule and in challenging the adoption of proposed mercury, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide rules on the state level.

Ms. Bassi has extensive experience in rulemaking, particularly in Illinois, and in facilitating consensus-building to reach mutually agreeable regulations.

Speeches and Presentations

"EPA's New NSPS for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Power Plants," Law Seminars International TeleBriefing (May 8, 2012)

"EPA’s New Mercury and Air Toxics Standards," Law Seminars International TeleBriefing (January 31, 2012)

"Background of the Transport Rule," (panelist) Environmental Law
Institute (August 26, 2011)

"EPA's Final Transport Rule," Law Seminars International TeleBriefing
(August 11, 2011)

"EPA's New Mercury Rules for Power Plants: Legal Basis," (panelist)
Law Seminars International (April 27, 2011)

"The Proposed new Ozone NAAQS," (panelist) Chemical Industry Council
of Illinois (April 15, 2011)

Previous Experience

Prior to entering private law practice, Kathleen C. Bassi served in several legal positions at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including:

• Staff attorney for the Division of Water Pollution Control
• Associate Counsel for Regulatory Development for the Bureau of Air
• Assistant for Program and Policy Coordination for the Bureau of Air
• Assistant for Program and Policy Coordination Division of Air Pollution Control

In these positions she participated in the development of numerous state policies and implementation plans with respect to air and water quality and in the representation of the Illinois EPA before the Pollution Control Board and other bodies in these matters. Such matters involved:

• Ozone and particulate standards and emissions reduction programs
• Hazardous air pollutant reduction programs
• Emissions trading programs
• Illinois EPA/U.S. EPA partnership agreements
• Mercury reduction in the Great Lakes

Ms. Bassi also was involved in preparing the Illinois EPA's comments on various federal proposals and in preparing various legislative proposals, evaluations and testimony. She coordinated coal/energy summits co-hosted by the Illinois EPA and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, and she advised in the Illinois EPA's Environmental Forum on energy issues and multi-pollutant strategies.

While at the Illinois EPA, Ms. Bassi participated in the Ozone Transport Assessment Group (OTAG), which was chaired by the director of Illinois EPA. OTAG was a 37-state ad hoc group that evaluated interstate transport of ozone and made recommendations to USEPA regarding how such transport should be addressed.

The approach developed by USEPA in response to OTAG's recommendations has served as the basis for the approach it has taken in subsequent regulatory initiatives addressing interstate air pollutant transport, including emissions trading programs.

Awards and Honors

Bureau Chief's High Achiever Award, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency - 1999