EPA delays emissions rule for farmers

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is again delaying plans to update decades-old emissions standards for grain elevators that farmers use to scoop up corn, wheat and barley and drop it inside a silo.

The EPA this summer proposed to update the air quality standards for grain elevators for the first time since 1984. The new rules would expand the performance standards to include any grain elevator that can hold 1 million bushels or more of grain. Previously, elevators that held fewer than 2.5 million bushels were exempt from the rules.

“Today’s proposed standards would apply to affected facilities at any grain storage elevator or grain terminal elevator storing corn, wheat, sorghum, rice, rye, oats, barley and soybeans,” the agency wrote.

But the EPA has since slowed progress on the new rules. On Thursday, the agency announced it would hold open the docket for public comments until Dec. 22, as it weighs the changes.

The EPA previously extended the comment period in September.

The delay comes amid pressure from industry groups, who have complained about the proposed rules.

The regulations are part of an eight year review of new source performance standards under the Clean Air Act.

The performance standards would apply to grain elevators that are constructed or modified after the rule goes into effect. They would measure the emissions from grain elevators when they start up, shutdown or malfunction.