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EPA Proposal Not Sitting Well With Many Montanans

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Jan 8, 2010 at 4:59 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 8, 2010 at 5:15 PM MST

A pending proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would require states to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Currently, Montana is the only state considering adoption of these regulations, and that’s not sitting well with many in the state.

Many Montana business and agriculture groups strongly oppose greenhouse gas regulations. The EPA proposal would require states to issue air quality permits for sources that emit over a defined threshold of 25,000 tons per year of greenhouse gas equivalent. If this threshold fails to stand up to legal scrutiny, it could automatically revert to the 250 tons per year the EPA uses for other pollutants. At that level, 90% of Montana’s farms, ranches, and many small businesses would be required to obtain permits. And many in the state say this could have severe impacts on Montana’s economy.

Jon Bennion, Government Affairs Director, explains, “These new costly regulations may subject small businesses to burdensome reporting requirements at a time when Washington should really be focused on getting people back to work.”

Jason Priest, Montana Growth Network Executive Director, says, “The real ask is that we not jump out in front of the federal process and make ourselves the experiment for litigation over this rule. It would be a huge burden on Montana’s businesses and families and workers.”

The EPA proposal has also received bipartisan criticism in Washington.

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