EPA: Stay in emissions reporting

On Nov. 22, 2017, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals granted EPA’s motion to further stay a mandate to report air releases of hazardous substances from animal waste at farms until Jan. 22, 2018. A notice on EPA’s website explains, “Farms with continuous releases do not have to submit their initial continuous release notification until the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issues its order, or mandate, enforcing the court’s opinion of April 11, 2017. No reporting is necessary until the mandate is issued. On Oct. 26, EPA released guidelines to assist farmers in reporting air releases of hazardous substances from animal waste at farms. The initial reporting deadline was set for Nov.15, 2017. At that time EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said, “EPA is working diligently to address undue regulatory burden on American farmers.” While we continue to examine our options for reporting requirements for emissions from animal waste, EPA’s guidance is designed to help farmers comply with the current requirements.”