"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed new rules to ensure factories and power plants will be able to obtain permits they will need to emit greenhouse gases starting next year.

The proposed rules, which the EPA wants to finalize before January 2 next year, are largely an administrative measure that is necessary for the agency to implement its mandate to take steps on emissions blamed for warming the planet.

Earlier this year, the EPA finalized rules that require factories and power plants starting next year to get air permits for emitting greenhouse gases when they retool or add capacity. Those rules cover large industrial facilities that are responsible for 70 percent of the emissions from stationary sources.

Thursday's rules "will help ensure that these sources will be able to get those permits regardless of where they are located," the EPA said in a release."

Timothy Gardner and Tom Doggett report for Reuters August 13, 2010. [2]