Waste Industry Opposes Methane Standards in Climate Bill

Date: September 28, 2009

Source: News Room

In a Sept. 9 letter to key senators, a coalition of companies and associations that includes landfill operators, power companies and carbon offset providers urges scrapping provisions in the House passed climate bill that would establish "performance standards" for methane emissions from landfills, coal mines and natural gas operations. The letter builds upon a previous request last month from many of the same groups seeking a repeal of the provision because it would reduce the supply of offsets and offset revenue opportunities under the climate measure and "impose very high costs on small landfills, many of which are operated by financially stressed municipalities facing severe budget constraints." The letter, to Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and ranking member Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), cites as justification for doing away with the performance standards an expected EPA proposal to limit regulation of stationary sources under the Clean Air Act Prevention of Significant Deterioration program to sources that emit 25,000 tons per year or more.

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