EPA Announces Voluntary Audit Program For Texas Facilities With Flexible Permits

A voluntary audit program announced by the Environmental Protection Agency Sept. 20 would provide protection from civil enforcement for industrial facilities in Texas that are operating under flexible permits for air emissions issued by the state, if those facilities agree to independent inspections.

Under the terms of the audit program, the facilities, which include refineries and power plants, would undergo an independent review of operations, modifications, and permitting activities that occurred since the flexible permit was issued so that the federally applicable requirements can be identified for development of a new permit.

EPA officials have long objected to Texas’ flexible ...