Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA

NRDC filed an action in the D.C. Circuit challenging EPA’s decision to defer for three years the requirement that facilities burning biomass fuels obtain GHG permits under the Clean Air Act. The rule, which was adopted July 20, exempts facilities that burn wood, various crop residues, grass, and other biomass from the requirements to obtain prevention of significant deterioration permits and Title V operating permits for their GHG emissions. EPA granted the deferral in response to a petition by the National Alliance of Forest Owners. According to the agency, the three years will allow it to conduct further studies of GHG emissions from biomass.