by Jbs040610 c3 — April 9, 2010—Under a final decision issued March 29 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), no stationary sources will be required to get Clean Air Act permits that cover greenhouse gases (GHGs) before January 2011, providing time for large industrial facilities and state governments to put in place cost-effective, innovative technologies to control and reduce carbon pollution.
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. This final action clarifies when GHGs and other pollutants are covered under Clean Air Act permitting programs. 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.
For more information, see the EPA Web site.
