GHG Monitor
7/11/2014
IN THE STATES
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection this week issued a proposed rule to repeal rules associated with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program. Earlier this year, a state appeals court ruled that Governor Chris Christie’s (R-N.J.) administration broke the law in 2011 when pulling out of RGGI, a northeastern multistate cap-and-trade program designed to cut CO2 emissions, without repealing or adjusting rules related to the program. At that time, the court ordered the New Jersey DEP to correct the issue by either repealing the rules or changing them to indicate that they are only applicable if the state is participating in RGGI. A public hearing concerning the proposal is scheduled for Aug. 8 and written comments will be accepted until Sept. 5.
IN CONGRESS
Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) introduced a bill this week which would stop all regulations currently being developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The “Stop the EPA Act” would immediately halt all proposed EPA regulations until the agency reviews all existing regulations. This would include proposed regulations for new and existing coal-fired power plants which aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Further, the bill would require congressional approval for any existing EPA regulation with an economic impact of more than $50 million. Should the regulation not gain the approval of congress, the regulation will no longer be in effect. Any future regulation with an economic impact of more than $50 million would also require congressional approval to be enacted under the bill.
