On October 23, Environmental Defense Fund filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its failure to update emission standards for hundreds of landfills nationwide. Landfills are the nation's second largest source of manmade methane pollution. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and a contributor to the smog air pollution that is associated with respiratory illnesses affecting millions of Americans. In September, the U.S. Climate Change Science Program issued a landmark report declaring measures to reduce methane emissions a "clear win-win" solution.
"Capturing the waste gas leaking from the nation's landfills and converting it to a local source of energy is a trifecta for the nation's economy, environment and energy security," said Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense Fund Deputy General Counsel. "Converting methane pollution to a homegrown energy source is a common sense solution to address global warming and protect our kids' health while boosting our economy."
The recent U.S. Climate Change Science Program report determined that measures to reduce methane emissions are: a "clear win-win solution for climate (less warming) and air quality (less pollution)." See Climate Projections Based on Emissions Scenarios for Long-Lived and Short-Lived Radiatively Active Gases and Aerosols, ps. 64-65, (Sept. 2008), at http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap3-2/final-report/.
Capturing landfill emissions also creates an economic boon to local communities because cost-effective technology provides access to an untapped energy source.
EPA has failed to update the emission standards for landfills for a dozen years, violating its duty under the nation's clean air laws to modernize the emission standards at least every eight years.
Methane contributes to harmful ozone and is a potent greenhouse gas
Methane emissions contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. Exposure to ground-level ozone has been linked to serious health effects including premature mortality, decreased lung function, respiratory illness, and asthma. Methane is also a potent global warming gas
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