The Western Regional Air Partnership released for public comment on August 15 its draft final recommendation for reducing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from large industrial sources over the next two decades, including a backstop “cap-and-trade” program to ensure the reductions are achieved. The WRAP also announced a series of public meetings to solicit public comment by Sept. 8.
The WRAP membership includes representatives from Western states, tribes, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The WRAP recommendation was developed over the last two years by a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from government, industry, environmental and nonprofit organizations and academia.
Public meetings are scheduled for Denver, Colo. on Aug. 17; Santa Fe, N.M. on Aug. 22; Phoenix, Ariz. on Aug. 24; Flagstaff, Ariz. on Aug. 29; Salt Lake City, Utah on Aug. 30; Casper, Wyo. on Aug. 31; and Boise, Idaho on Sept. 6. Exact times and locations are available on the WRAP Web site at www.wrapair.org or by contacting the Western Governors’ Association at (303) 623-9378 or the National Tribal Environmental Council at (505) 242-2175. After reviewing comments submitted, the WRAP will meet Sept. 25 in Sacramento, Calif. to make its final recommendation, which must be submitted to the EPA by Oct. 2.
SO2 is an important contributor to haze in Western parks and wilderness areas, and under EPA’s regional haze rule, nine Western states have the option of establishing milestones for voluntarily reducing SO2 emissions through the year 2018. These milestones must show greater progress toward reducing SO2 emissions than would be achieved by requiring older facilities to install what is known as Best Available Retrofit Technology through a command-and-control regulatory program.
For more information, contact the Western Regional Air Partnership at http://www.wrapair.org.
From the Daily Regulatory Reporter, as originally reported by PRN Newswire
