U.S. EPA reverses policy on 'major sources' of pollution
Source: Reuters
JANUARY 25, 2018 / 8:37 PM / UPDATED 23 MINUTES AGO
Eric Beech
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday it was withdrawing a provision of the Clean Air Act that requires a major source of pollution like a power plant to always be treated as a major source, even if it makes changes to reduce emissions.
The decision to withdraw the once-in always-in policy is part of President Donald Trumps effort to roll back federal regulations and was sought by utilities, the petroleum industry and others.
Sources of air pollution previously classified as major sources may be reclassified as area sources when the facility limits its emissions below major source thresholds, the EPA said. Area sources are subject to less strict pollution control standards than major sources.
It will reduce regulatory burden for industries and the states, while continuing to ensure stringent and effective controls on hazardous air pollutants, Bill Wehrum, assistant administrator of the EPAs Office of Air and Radiation, said in a statement.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-epa/u-s-epa-reverses-policy-on-major-sources-of-pollution-idUSKBN1FF075
Marthe48
(17,018 posts)I won't be surprised if they roll back the 10 Commandments.
BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)He said, "I am glad we don't have any Climate Change skeptics here today". I am sure the sarcasm went over the fucking moron's bald head.
yonder
(9,674 posts)my ass it will
disalitervisum
(470 posts)The overweening conceit of our primitive war-mongering backward race will result in extinction, leaving the planet to heal itself and eventually be discovered by a space-faring species that is worthy of it.
SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)whereby they find trees to be the world's "major polluter". Trump has ordered the removal of all trees from Federal land.
Is this really necessary?
Nitram
(22,877 posts)If a polluter brings emission levels below a certain level, why not acknowledge that by reducing threat level that polluter poses? Am I missing something here?