EPA Seeks Input on Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Buildings and Construction Equipment

In June, AGC reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) planned to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to “discuss and solicit public input” on how to use the Clean Air Act to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from engines in construction equipment, as well as broad range of other mobile and stationary sources.  To read the full AGC article, which provides a background on EPA’s decision to issue an ANPR and some of the potential impacts, go to http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/agcenv/issues/2008-06-25/. This summer, EPA released a lengthy ANPR with public comment due by November 28, 2008.  The EPA web page for the ANPR is located at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr.html. AGC’s primary concern is that using the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions could halt building construction.  Once EPA controls a greenhouse gas under almost any section of the Act, most buildings in the U.S. that emit that “pollutant” would become subject to costly and time-consuming permitting and construction requirements under EPA’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program.  AGC will be commenting on this ANPR.  If you have any questions or comments about this issue, please contact Melinda Tomaino at tomainom@agc.org.