Greenhouse Gas Thresholds Remain

WASHINGTON (CN) - The Environmental Protection Agency will not lower the threshold at which emitters of greenhouse gases have to comply with rules meant to reduce such emissions.

Under the Greenhouse Gas Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V permitting programs of the Clean Air Act, source emitters of the gases have to obtain permits from the states in which they operate, proving their compliance with EPA emissions standards.

To prevent overwhelming state permitting agencies, the EPA adopted the Tailoring Rule to tailor compliance with rules in stages based on the volume of gases emitted and the ability of state agencies to investigate and permit emitters.

So far the agency has reset the thresholds three times. Under the Tailoring Rule, the EPA has to reconsider lowering the threshold by 2016.

The public has until April 20 to comment on the proposal.

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