EPA Extends Comment Period On Carbon Emission Regs

The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it would extend a public comment period on controversial carbon emission regulations by an additional 45 days. The comment period was originally scheduled to end Oct. 16, but with political urging in an election year environment, the period was pushed back to Dec. 1.

Under President Obama’s so-called Clean Power Plan, the EPA has proposed a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants by 2030 from 2005 levels, mainly targeting the nation’s fleet of more than 600 coal-fired plants that currently supply the lion’s share of the nation’s electricity needs.

State business and regulatory leaders have been meeting to outline the impact of the regulation on industry and utilities, and to explore how the state might meet the goal.

The EPA is still scheduled to issue a final rule by its original deadline of June 2015.

Arkansas would have until 2017 to submit a state plan to comply with the rules and would have until 2018 to submit a regional plan.

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Director Teresa Marks said in a recent TB&P interview it is “too early” to determine right now which direction Arkansas may go.