Senators Praise EPA Delay on GHG Regulation

"Facing mounting pressure from congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the Obama administration yesterday vowed to gradually phase in climate regulations for industrial sources.

U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said that no stationary sources will face greenhouse gas regulations this year and that small sources will not be subject to permitting requirements any sooner than 2016. EPA is also considering "substantially" raising the thresholds in its proposed "tailoring" rule to exempt more facilities from requirements that they minimize their greenhouse gas emissions.

The announcement is seen as a step forward by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers who have expressed concerns about the possible economic consequences of regulating carbon dioxide and other gases, but several senators said they still plan to move forward with efforts to handcuff EPA's regulatory authority."

Robin Bravender and Darren Samuelsohn reports for ClimateWire February 23, 2010.

See Also:

"E.P.A. Plans to Phase in Regulation of Emissions" (New York Times)

"Coal-State Democrats Oppose Global-Warming Rules" (AP)