Groups May Form Coalition To Push Permanent EPA Biomass GHG Exemption

摘要

Publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) along with crop and food processing groups are considering forming a coalition to push EPA to make permanent its three-year exemption for short-term emitters of biogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) from Clean Air Act permitting. But the effort could depend on how a federal appellate court rules in environmentalists' pending lawsuit contesting EPA's authority to grant the temporary exemption, which is slated for oral argument April 8. POTWs including the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) are worried that EPA appears to be moving slowly to develop a rule to replace the exemption and that it will allow it to simply expire, meaning short-term carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters will be need GHG permits as of next summer. The board of directors of NACWA, which represents wastewater plant operators, is slated to hold an April 22 meeting to vote on joining a coalition. Last month the group posted a notice on its website to seek input on teaming up with other sectors — such as agriculture — that also emit short-term GHG emissions to gauge their interest in such a coalition, given that the sectors would be adversely affected by an end to the exemption.