ND SB2237

Prohibits the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality from adopting air quality rules stricter than federal Clean Air Act standards for coal conversion facilities, coal-fueled electric generating units, petroleum refineries, and oil and gas production facilities without a risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis demonstrating substantial public health impacts and net benefits.

Requires the department to hold public hearings with at least 90 days' notice before proposing stricter air quality rules, with additional 90-day notice periods if new studies or data are relied upon after the initial notice.

Mandates independent peer review by qualified experts selected by the environmental review advisory council for any risk assessments and cost-benefit analyses supporting proposed rules.

Applies to all pending petitions for air quality rules affecting the specified facility types, regardless of whether stricter rules were previously adopted, but exempts existing rules for odor, hydrogen sulfide, visible and fugitive emissions, and particulate matter and sulfur dioxide standards.

Declared an emergency measure.