Agency Proposes Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting Scheme

The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has put forward the idea of establishing a thorough greenhouse gas emission reporting scheme that covers the majority of US sites responsible for releasing CO2 and other gases into the atmosphere – a sign of progress towards greater regulation of air pollutants.

According to information provided by the EPA in a statement issued March 10th, car manufacturers, fossil fuel providers and firms responsible for generating a minimum of 25,000 tons worth of greenhouse gases per annum would all be affected by the new system.

While data relating to how much CO2 is being emitted from coal-fired power plants is already being fed back to the US government, the new legislation would potentially yield emission information associated with around 13,000 more sites.

“Our efforts to confront climate change must be guided by the best possible information”, an administrator at the agency, Lisa Jackson, explained, adding that the measure represented “...a critical step toward helping us better protect our health and environment...all without placing an onerous burden on our nation's small businesses.”

Climate Registry

Over 80 per cent of US states already take part in the Climate Registry - a non-compulsory scheme where greenhouse gas emissions are quantified, and information gathered on them fed back – a situation acknowledge by the agency.

In related news, it has emerged through information published on the internet by Greenwire, that the Environmental Protection Agency will release data next month that draws a link between greenhouse gases and human health risks. Ultimately, this could lead to the agency regulating pollution in terms of the Clean Air Act.

The Clean Air Act

The Clean Air Act currently makes it legal to gather in information relating to CO2 emissions released by electric sites. Two years ago, attempts were made, unsuccessfully, to widen the scope of the act’s coverage so as to include other industries.

The EPA, now, wants fossil-fuel manufacturers, car and car engine manufacturers and industrial chemical plants to be covered, too. Most small businesses, however, would be exempt, since “...their emissions fall well below the threshold.”

Environmental News will present further coverage of this topic as facts emerge.