On October 31, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the State of Texas program to issue greenhouse gas (GHG) permits for new and modified facilities. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has worked closely with EPA and submitted a state implementation plan for GHG permits to replace the existing federal program. EPA announced both its approval of the state implementation plan (SIP) and the rescinding of the federal implementation plan (FIP) making the TCEQ the primary GHG permitting authority in Texas.
The TCEQ worked closely with EPA to write federal GHG permits over the past months through a work-share agreement. Today’s action eliminates the need for businesses to seek air permits from two separate regulatory agencies in Texas and moves the permitting program to TCEQ. EPA and TCEQ will continue to work closely with pending permit applicants during the transition period and ensure no unnecessary project delays result from this action. The authority for Texas to issue air permits for new or modified GHG pollution sources will become effective upon publication of the final SIP approval and the FIP withdrawal in the Federal Register. Publication in the Federal Register typically takes seven to 10 days following signature.
Since January 2, 2011, projects in Texas that increase GHG emissions substantially required an air permit from the EPA. In Texas alone, EPA has received 83 GHG permit applications from businesses since 2011. Texas is No. 1 in the country for receiving EPA-issued GHG permits – with over 50 permits being issued by EPA. Of the 189 GHG permits issued nationwide, EPA has completed 61 and the states have issued 128 permits.
For all of the latest information on GHG permits in Texas please visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/r6/Apermit.nsf/AirP