In a report to be considered August 19 by the Environmental Quality Board, the Department of Environmental Protection recommended against adoption of the carbon dioxide emission limits proposed in a rulemaking petition by Ashley Funk saying Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action Plan already projects emissions in 2020 will be lower than those in 2000.

DEP also said a national approach to greenhouse gas emissions is needed like the Clean Power Plan proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in June because climate change is a national and global issue and should cover all sources of carbon dioxide emissions.

The petition asked DEP to adopt a regulation which would require a 6 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from all fossil fuel-burning sources in the Commonwealth through 2050 with a baseline of 2012.

Comments by the petitioner on DEP’s recommendations are included in the report along with responses by DEP.

The recommendation was included in a 53-page report to the Board.

The EQB is also scheduled to consider these other items on August 19--

-- New Beaver Creek, Delaware County rulemaking petition;

-- New Upper Paradise Creek, Monroe County rulemaking petition; and

-- Presentation of 3 Year Radiation Protection Program Fee, Program Cost Report.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at  9:00 a.m.

For copies of documents related to each agenda item, visit the Environmental Quality Board webpage.

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8/11/2014