EPA's original March 31st deadline for large emitters and fuel suppliers to report greenhouse gas emissions has been delayed indefinitely.
[EPA] did not specifically mention the date of the new deadline, but said that the final tool for companies to upload their data will be available this summer.
"To ensure that the requirements are practical and understandable to the thousands of companies already registered to report under the program, the agency is in the process of finalizing a user friendly online electronic reporting platform," the EPA said.
"Following conversations with industry and others, and in the interest of providing high quality data to the public this year, EPA is extending this year's reporting deadline – originally March 31 – and plans to have the final uploading tool available this summer, with the data scheduled to be published later this year," the agency added.
The EPA said the extension will allow it to further test the system and give industry a chance to test the tool, become familiar with it, and provide feedback to the agency. It said it will provide more detail on these changes in coming weeks.
Of course, opposition to the greenhouse gas regulations has been growing recently:
Opponents' attacks on the EPA greenhouse gas regulations have intensified in recent months. On February 19, the House of Representatives passed federal spending legislation that included an amendment sponsored by Texas Republicans Ted Poe, Joe Barton and John Carter, denying 2011 funds for the regulations. The spending bill also cut billions of dollars from the EPA's budget.
When EPA head Lisa Jackson appeared at a hearing held by the Energy and Commerce Committee, Republicans grilled her on the necessity and potential harmful effects of the agency's greenhouse gas limits.
Stay tuned!
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