South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

We promote and protect the health of the public and the environment.

• Air Pollutants & Monitoring
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Basic
  Information
• How can I help
  reduce GHG Emissions?
• Laws
  and Regulations
• EPA
  Tailoring Rule

Regulatory Activity Related to Greenhouse Gases

There is much ongoing discussion both at the state and national level about climate change and the U.S. EPA's proposed rules on greenhouse gases. We have provided comments to EPA on these proposed rules during the public comment period. As these proposed rules are so significant it is imperative that we provide EPA with information they need to finalize their regulations.

We stand by our comments and the concerns that we as well as other states continue to express. Our agency is firmly committed to protect public health and the environment and the quality of the air we breathe. In this case, there is a better approach which will result in more environmental benefit and energy independence. That is action by the U.S. Congress. We support Congress setting meaningful national climate and energy policy, as has the U.S. EPA Administrator.

Substantial progress has been made in improving air quality by implementation of the Clean Air Act but significant changes are needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The Clean Air Act was never intended to address global sources, only local sources and the Clean Air Act needs to be updated to provide the EPA and the states with the tools needed to address complex issues such as greenhouse gases.

Current Federal Regulatory Activity

Documents linked here are in pdf format.

• Update: Final GHG Tailoring Rule
  June 29, 2012 – EPA issued a Final Rule (Step 3) that does not revise greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting thresholds that were established in Step 1 and Step 2 of the GHG Tailoring Rule
  • Fact Sheet (EPA), Final Rule (EPA)
• May 13, 2010 - EPA sets GHG emissions thresholds to define when permits under the New Source Review Prevention Significant Deterioration (PSD) and title V Operating Permit programs are required for new and existing industrial facilities.
  • Fact Sheet (EPA), Final Rule (EPA)
  • State and Local Permitting Authority Responses to Tailoring Rule Request (60-day Letters)
  • H4888 - South Carolina Joint Resolution
• Final Rulemaking: Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards
• Final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule
  • DHEC Comments to Proposed Rule
• Proposed Rulemaking to Establish Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards; Proposed Rule
  • DHEC Comments to Proposed Rule
• Reconsideration of Interpretation of Regulations That Determine Pollutants Covered by Clean Air Act Permitting Programs; Final Rule
  • DHEC Comments to Proposed Rule
• Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule; Proposed Rule
  • DHEC Comments to Proposed Rule

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