US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing the final series of actions that will ensure that the largest industrial facilities can get Clean Air Act permits that cover greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions beginning in January 2011.
The first set of actions will give EPA the authority to permit GHGs in seven states, until the state or local agencies can revise their permitting regulations to cover these emissions.
EPA has confirmed that it is ensuring that additional steps are taken to disapprove part of Texas’ Clean Air Act permitting program and that the agency will further issue GHG permits to facilities in the state.
All these actions will ensure that large industrial facilities will be able to receive permits for greenhouse gas emissions regardless of where they are located.
In the second set of actions, EPA has issued final rules that will ensure that there are no federal laws in place that require any state to issue a permit for GHG emissions below levels outlined in the tailoring rule.
EPA has announced that beginning January 2011, all the industries that emit GHGs in large quantities, and all those planning to build new facilities or make major modifications to their existing ones, must obtain air permits and implement energy efficiency measures or, where available, cost-effective technology to reduce their GHGs emissions.