EPA Proposes Greenhouse Gas Permitting for Large Industries
U.S. EPA announced it will propose requiring large industrial facilities that emit at least 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year to obtain construction and operating permits covering the emissions.The permits must demonstrate the use of best available technology and energy efficiency measures to minimize emissions when facilities are constructed or significantly modified.The large facilities that would be covered by the proposed rule, including power plans, refineries and factories, account for nearly 70 percent of the nation’s stationary source greenhouse gas emissions.EPA expects that most sources are already subject to the Clean Air Act’s permitting requirements because the facilities emit other air pollutants.The rule would focus on emissions of six greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.
