On September 30, 2009, EPA announced a proposal to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over 25,000 tons per year from large facilities. The announcement came only eight days after EPA declared that starting January 1, 2010, EPA will require suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial GHGs, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of GHG emissions to submit annual reports to EPA. (See our previous post on the new GHG reporting program: http://www.ryanwhaley.com/epa-will-begin-monitoring-greenhouse-gas-emissions-in-2010)
EPA will add the new regulations to the existing New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration construction permit and Title V operating permit programs under the Clean Air Act.
According to EPA, the new regulatory program will require subject facilities to obtain permits that would demonstrate they are using the best practices and technologies to minimize GHG emissions. EPA currently plans to develop sector- and source-specific guidance for making Best Available Control Technology determinations.
Please visit the EPA factsheet concerning this new regulatory program at http://www.epa.gov/nsr/fs20090930action.html. EPA will accept comment on this proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Posted on
Friday, October 9, 2009
by Ivan L. London