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EPA Orders Scale Back of Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has directed the substantial reduction of a 15-year-old federal initiative that mandates thousands of power plants, oil refineries, cement manufacturers, and other major industrial sites to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. This decision, according to sources familiar with the matter, will significantly curtail the program’s scope.
Drastic Reduction in Reporting Requirements
During a recent agency meeting, political appointees informed staff of plans to eliminate reporting mandates for almost all of the 41 categories currently required to submit data. These sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of internal discussions, revealed the extensive rollback impacting the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
Impact on Pollution Monitoring
Critics argue that severely weakening the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program would leave the federal government without crucial insights into the sources and quantities of pollutants driving global warming. The absence of this data would impede the ability to pinpoint significant polluting sectors or individual facilities and monitor emission trends over time. This action effectively hinders informed decision-making regarding greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Scope of Current Reporting
Presently, the EPA obligates approximately 8,000 of the nation’s largest industrial operations to report annually on their emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—prominent greenhouse gases. Under the proposed alterations, only select oil and gas installations would remain subject to mandatory reporting.
Reactions to the EPA Decision
Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, emphasized the public’s right to know the extent of climate pollution. She asserted that policymakers and businesses alike require this data, denouncing the move as an “irresponsible attack on science and data.”
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EPA Spokeswoman’s Statement
EPA spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou did not explicitly confirm the administration’s intention to dismantle the program. However, she referenced a March 12 announcement where EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin expressed a “reconsideration” of the program, citing its burden on polluters. Mr. Zeldin previously stated that the program imposes “millions of dollars” in costs on American businesses, particularly small businesses, hindering economic progress.
Industry Response
Executives from the American Petroleum Institute and America’s Power, representing the oil and gas and coal industries respectively, indicated they had not opposed the greenhouse gas reporting program.
Program’s Future and Broader Implications
Ms. Vaseliou contended that the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program differs from other EPA data collection efforts as it is not legally mandated. Following Mr. Zeldin’s March statements, staff were tasked with exploring program reductions. However, at an April 4 meeting, appointees directed staff to draft a regulation within a month to repeal the majority of the reporting requirements.
Concerns over Climate Action
Rachel Cleetus, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, argued that weakening the reporting program aligns with the administration’s broader stance against addressing climate change. She highlighted recent cuts in federal funding for climate research and programs, interpreting these actions as efforts to suppress acknowledgement and discussion of climate change.
International Context
Data collected through greenhouse gas emissions reporting not only aids domestic policy but also contributes to international efforts through the United Nations. The Paris Agreement on climate change, requires signatory nations to measure and report national emissions. The move to curtail the reporting program comes as the current administration initiated the process to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.