EPA Denies Livestock Tax to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

December 17, 2008 — 

A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule-making report included sections related to reducing livestock methane emissions which triggered much speculation and interpretation that the agency would likely impose a "tax" on livestock and dairy operations for methane emissions.

The EPA is now clarifying the agency's position indicating that it is not proposing a livestock tax to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Catherine Milbourn, EPA spokesperson, also told the Times Union, of Albany, N.Y., that EPA has not proposed a livestock/dairy tax and hasn't said that it will target farmers as it decides how to move forward in enforcing the Clean Air Act.