The Environmental Quality Board Tuesday voted 17 to 3 to turn down the request in a rulemaking petition by Ashley Funk to adopt carbon dioxide emission reduction limits.  The vote means the Board agrees with DEP’s review of the petition saying Pennsylvania’s Climate Change Action Plan already projects emissions in 2020 will be lower than those in 2000.

Before the final vote, John Walliser, a representative of DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council on the Board, made a motion to allow amendment of the petition to define specific actions by DEP where they have authority to act.  The motion was voted down 14 to 6.

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 also took action to accept two other rulemaking petitions for study: New Beaver Creek, Delaware County and New Upper Paradise Creek, Monroe County.  The Board also heard a presentation on the 3 Year Radiation Protection Program Fee, Program Cost Report.

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

NewsClips:

State Board Rejects Student’s Petition To Limit Greenhouse Gases

Official: EPA Climate Plan Could Spike Electric Rates

Op-Ed: Fight Climate Change With Natural Gas

Editorial: Coal Jobs Disappear, Gas Jobs May Beckon

Editorial: Another Carbon Credit Scheme

Editorial: Recasting EPA, Devolving Power To The States

PA Ranks 3rd In Statewide Carbon Dioxide Emissions In 2011

8/25/2014