Western Emissions Budget(WEB)Trading Program:Model Rule,Model SIP/TIP and MOU Development

摘要

The Annex to the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission report included a draft Model Rule and Memorandum of Understanding(MOU)for the Western Emissions Budget(WEB)Trading Program,a backstop regional cap-and-trade program for SO_2,that will be implemented if regional emission milestones are exceeded.The draft Model Rule and MOU needed to be modified to incorporate provisions in the Supplement to the Annex and to ensure that the Rule and MOU can be incorporated within the framework of state and tribal regulatory programs.In addition,EPA had commented on the draft Model Rule and modifications were necessary to address those comments.The Western Regional Air Partnership(WRAP)asked the Western States Air Resources(WESTAR)Council to help them update the draft Model Rule and MOU.WESTAR formed a Working Group comprised of state,tribal,and EPA staff with experience in rule and State Implementation Plan(SIP)development.The advantages to this approach were two-fold:it brought together the diversity of western air quality regulatory program and SIP development experts;and,these experts will bring back to their own agencies the necessary knowledge to incorporate the Model Rule and MOU into their respective SIPs and Tribal Implementation Plans(TIPs).This effort required a process to:educate the Working Group members about the draft Model Rule and MOU;provide background research assistance on existing market-based trading programs;review the draft Model Rule and MOU;and,identify areas of the rule and MOU in need of adjustment to accommodate specific regulatory structures and gain approval by EPA(subject to public notice and comment).This paper describes the structure of the WEB Trading Program,focusing on the background of its development and the unique characteristics of the program.