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EPA: CAA Permitting for Greenhouse Gases Will Be Phased In

  • Mar 31, 2010

Under a final decision issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, no stationary sources will be required to get Clean Air Act permits that cover greenhouse gases (GHGs) before January 2011.

EPA has pledged to take sensible steps to address the billions of tons of GHG pollution and is providing time for large industrial facilities and state governments to put in place cost-effective, innovative technologies to control and reduce carbon pollution. The announcement is the first step in EPA’s phased in approach to addressing GHG emissions laid out by Administrator Lisa P. Jackson earlier in March.

“This is a common-sense plan for phasing in the protections of the Clean Air Act. It gives large facilities the time they need to innovate, governments the time to prepare to cut greenhouse gases and it ensures that we don’t push this problem off to our children and grandchildren,” said Jackson. “With a clear process in place, it’s now time for American innovators and entrepreneurs to go to work and lead us into the clean energy economy of the future.”

The action determines that Clean Air Act construction and operating permit requirements for the largest emitting facilities will begin when the first national rule controlling GHGs takes effect. If finalized as proposed, the rule limiting GHG emissions for cars and light trucks would trigger these requirements in January 2011 – the earliest model year 2012 vehicles meeting the standards can be sold in the United States. The agency expects to issue final vehicle GHG standards shortly.

EPA has committed to focusing its GHG permitting requirements on the largest sources. The agency will make a decision later this spring on the amount of GHGs facilities can emit before having to include limits for these emissions in their permits.

Today’s action is the final step in EPA’s reconsideration of the December 18, 2008 memorandum entitled “EPA’s Interpretation of Regulations that Determine Pollutants Covered by Federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permit Program.” The final action clarifies when GHGs and other pollutants are covered under Clean Air Act permitting programs.

Comments

Tue, Apr 6, 2010 Environmental Engineer Baton Rouge, LA

GHGs are not pollutants under the current framework of the Clean Air Act. Congress and the rulemaking process is being circumvented by the EPA, who is attempting to use the CAA to regulate GHGs. Congress needs to stop EPA from bastardizing the CAA. Any new regulations need to be developed by Congress, not the EPA.

Sun, Apr 4, 2010

I believe that the compliance must be stratified. I agree that EPA focus on biggest conributors. In the enrergy sector which is just starting to be developed, they must be exemptd.

Thu, Apr 1, 2010

What will be the standard of measurement against which any benefits resulting from enactment of these regulations will be measured? Will the EPA take any responsibility if certain environmental benefits are not obtained? Will the EPA provide an 'insurance policy' (i.e. refund of incremental costs due to GHG regulation) to the US public should a natural phenomenon (i.e. a massive volcanic eruption) create major climate change that negates any benefits from these regulations? I believe the answer is a resounding 'no' to all of the above. Shakey science leads to shakey policy leads to more money being shaken from the US public without consequence to the Elmer Gantry's within the radical element of the environmental movement. Meanwhile, projects that truly provide local environmental benefits are often delayed or denied by gov't environmental agents/agencies that have little or no technical background from which to assess the cost-benefit ratio of the project.

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