EPA Withdraws Controversial GHG Registry Rule

Date: May 7, 2010

Source: News Room

The EPA has withdrawn a direct final rule making minor changes to its greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting rule amid industry concerns that the agency had acted without clarifying separate reporting of biomass GHGs among other things. In an April 30 Federal Register notice, EPA said it is withdrawing its March 16 direct final rule making "minor harmonizing changes" to the GHG reporting rule. The Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG), which represents electric generators, filed Dec. 29 petitions with EPA and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging the reporting rule. Among its concerns was that the registry could be construed to require facilities to report biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which come from burning biomass, separately from the facility's other CO2 emissions.

Sign up to receive our free Weekly News Bulletin