by Ann Withanee — November 17, 2010—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued guidance on pollution permitting to states recently, the day after the agency finalized greenhouse gas reporting requirements for the petroleum and natural gas sectors.
The guidance is designed to help states identify cost-effective ways of reducing and minimizing emissions at new or upgraded carbon-intensive facilities seeking air permits, such as power plants, cement kilns and refineries.
Although the guidance doesn’t require specific emissions control for particular sources, it does emphasize energy efficiency as being the most likely cost-effective means of minimizing emissions, but offers wide latitude to states to make permitting decisions on a case-by-case basis.
The move is intended to allay industry fears that the requirements would be too burdensome and to smooth the transition to greenhouse gas permitting, which is scheduled to begin in January. All states will participate except for Texas, which is refusing to comply. There are also outstanding legal challenges to regulation.
“EPA is working closely with its partners at the state and local levels to ensure permitting for greenhouse gases runs smoothly,” Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office Air and Radiation, said in a statement. “To identify GHG reduction options, EPA and the states are now ready to apply the same time-tested process they have used for other pollutants. This shows that the Clean Air Act can be used to reduce these gases in a cost effective way.”
For more information, see the EPA Web site.
