Sep 15: The National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA), representing air pollution control agencies in 53 states and territories and over 165 major metropolitan areas across the United States released a summary indicating that "the vast majority of states are moving full speed ahead and expect to have rules in place to permit greenhouse gases (GHGs) under the higher thresholds in the GHG Tailoring Rule by January 2, 2011, or shortly thereafter [See WIMS 5/14/10]." In the final Tailoring Rule, EPA asked states to send letters to the Agency by August 2, 2010 with information regarding how the state intends to implement the Tailoring Rule. EPA asked each state to respond by indicating whether or not the state needs to undertake a regulatory or legislative process in order to incorporate the provisions of the Tailoring Rule, as well as the timeline for completing any such process.
States were also asked to notify EPA if they do not have any authority to permit GHGs and; if not, to indicate whether or not they intend to revise their rules to include GHGs. NACAA reviewed and briefly summarized letters from all applicable states, as well as those from a number of local and territorial air pollution control agencies. NACAA's analysis shows that the vast majority of states are working quickly to prepare for GHG permitting and incorporate the provisions of the Tailoring Rule into applicable state and local rules and State Implementation Plans (SIPs) as soon as possible. NACAA said, "Nearly 80% of states expect to have rules in place by January 2, 2011 or shortly thereafter. Of the minority of states that will not yet have rules in place by January 2, 2011 or shortly thereafter, most are working to incorporate the provisions of the Tailoring Rule, but will be delayed due to state legislative and/or regulatory requirements."
Access the 10-page summary from NACAA (click here). Access links to complete information on EPA's GHG Tailoring Rule and related information (click here).
