228534 Resource 107527 205428 205428 1236884382910 1236884523928 Controlled EPA Proposes National CO2 Reporting System

Sets the Stage for Further Legislation

It’s interesting how quickly changes can begin with a new administration…this week; the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a> proposed a national system for reporting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by major emitters. How big is the problem and who are the emitters? 85% of greenhouse gases emitted in the country come from some estimated 13,000 facilities. These locations would be covered under the registry proposal.<o:p /> <o:p>The registry is included in President Obama's 2010 Budget and would set the stage for regulation of CO2 and other gases that contribute to global warming. Some say the administration is using the threat of regulation of CO2 through the Clean Air Act to actually encourage reluctant lawmakers to pass its climate change agenda. Time will tell what the outcome will be as events move forward.<o:p /></o:p> <o:p>"Our efforts to confront climate change must be guided by the best possible information," said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in a statement. "Through this new reporting, we will have comprehensive and accurate data about the production of greenhouse gases."<o:p /></o:p> <o:p>Jackson called the registry a "critical step toward helping us better protect our health and environment."<o:p /></o:p> <o:p>Suppliers of fossil fuel and industrial chemicals, manufacturers of motor vehicles and engines, as well as large direct emitters of greenhouse gases with emissions equal to or greater than a threshold of 25,000 metric tons a year would be required to report.<o:p /></o:p> <o:p>Businesses would have to report to the EPA in 2011 for the calendar year 2010, except for vehicle and engine manufacturers, which would begin reporting for model year 2011. The EPA said it expected it would cost industry around $160 million in the first year to comply with the reporting requirements and around $ 127 million in subsequent years.<o:p /></o:p> <o:p>The president has said that he would prefer Congress to pass legislation that would cap greenhouse gas emissions and create a market to trade the right to pollute. </o:p> <o:p>A registry would provide the data for both types of regulation - a Congressionally created law or EPA rules.</o:p> <o:p>Business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers warn that if the EPA moves forward on regulation of CO2 under the Clean Air Act as proposed - and which the registry prepares for - it could throw the economy into a tailspin.</o:p> <o:p>These organizations are short-sighted in their thinking and are only looking at a part of the greater issue. They are reaching for simple conclusions when the problem is actually very complex. Mostly, they are only considering the short term effects instead of the long range catastrophe of inaction. In planning for the future of our economy or any bold plan, sometimes you have to take two steps back to go one step forward. A CO2 reporting system should have been in place 30 years ago. We are simply making up for our past mistakes. </o:p> <o:p>A review of the GHG issue and other environmental policies will be discussed in an upcoming webinar from NAEM: 60 Days into the Obama Administration: The Likely Impacts on EHS, Energy and Sustainability Policy on March 31st.<o:p /></o:p> Register <a href="http://www.naem.org/webinar/2009/theobamaadministration/">here</a>. <o:p>In addition, Enviance is also holding a webinar, coming up on March 19th<o:p /></o:p> titled, “2009: Reducing Compliance Costs in Tough Times – Can you Afford Not To?” Register <a href="http://www.enviance.com/registration/landing9.aspx">here.</a> <o:p> </o:p> 10 application/xml false CO2 EPA fossil fuels greenhouse gas emissions Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.20) Gecko/20081217 Firefox/2.0.0.20 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 jwuebben 74.202.198.130 false true false false true 205814 false false true false false false true 107527 blog blogsite/Enviance/web