The EPA will not require pollution permits until January of 2011 for power plants, industrial plants and other large stationary greenhouse gas sources.
This confirmation from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson follows her statement before Congress March 3, when she said she intended to phase in requirements for large sources of emissions
Starting next January, such plants will be required to obtain permits that prove they are using the best available technologies to reduce emissions, reports Reuters.
Previously, it was understood that EPA would only require permits for emitters of 75,000 tons or more, which would include large factories and power plants, but exclude hospitals and many smaller manufacturing operations.
However, EPA has yet to confirm the exact amount of emissions, and is not expected to do so until later this Spring.
The Obama Administration is expected to announce final rules on auto emissions this week, with the average fuel economy target to rise to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, up from 27.3 miles per gallon now, reports the Wall Street Journal.
If EPA intends to require a higher emissions or fuel standard for 2012-year automobiles, it must let automakers know by April 1.
In general, EPA has faced strong opposition over application of the emissions regulations under the Clean Air Act.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on March 15 filed a petition asking the EPA to reconsider the legal underpinning of its Endangerment Finding, which would open the door to emissions regulations.
For a fact sheet and final notice on the EPA confirmation, click here.
