EPA biogenic emissions panel posts updated draft report

The U.S. EPA’s Science Advisory Board is continuing its work to complete a biogenic carbon emissions framework. On Feb. 8, the SAB’s Biogenic Carbon Emissions Panel posted an updated draft report to the EPA’s website. A previous draft was published in late August.

In November 2014, U.S. EPA released a revised framework for assessing biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from stationary sources, updating an original draft published in 2011. At that time, the agency also released a memo providing regulatory guidance on how the updated framework would impact the Clean Power Plan and Prevention of Significant Deterioration Program.  Since that time, the second draft has been undergoing additional review by the biogenic emissions panel.  

The panel held several meetings and teleconferences on the revised framework last year, including a meeting in March and teleconferences in May, July, August and September.

In late January, the EPA announced plans to hold a workshop on the role of biomass under the Clean Power Plan on April 7.In February, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy spoke briefly about biomass and the Clean Power Plan during a congressional hearing hosted by the House Committee on Agriculture, noting the EPA expects biomass to be a “really important” part of compliance plans submitted by many states.