Exempting Florida’s Large Air Polluters

On September 12, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed to permanently remove 46 source categories from the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. According to the EPA Tool (FLIGHT) 179 polluting industrial facilities located in Florida will no longer have to report their greenhouse gas emissions to the EPA. 

Four of these industrial plants are in Manatee County, including Tropicana Manufacturing, Gulfstream Station, Lena Road Landfill, and Manatee Power in Parrish, Florida. The Bee Ridge Landfill and the Central County Solid Waste Disposal Complex in Sarasota County will also be exempt from reporting their greenhouse gas releases. 

Additionally, four phosphoric acid production plants in Florida (Mosaic Bartow Facility, Mosaic New Wales Facility, Mosaic Riverview Facility, and White Springs Agricultural Chemical, Inc.) will no longer be required to report their greenhouse gas emissions.   

The reduction in the monitoring of air pollutants such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, and Fluorinated greenhouse gases is a significant environmental and public health issue. The reduction in air quality monitoring is coming at a time when state regulatory agencies are showing their willingness to lower environmental standards.  Florida will likely reduce their air monitoring programs due to a lack of funding. We cannot count on the state or the federal government for protection from air pollution. 

The proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program make it more difficult for the public to determine the extent to which greenhouse gases are being released in their area. It is estimated that nearly 8,000 facilities nationwide will provide less information on the gases released; these facilities include refineries, power plants, oil wells, and landfills.

The EPA relies too heavily on industry to determine how it will meet applicable air quality standards. Certainly, there is nothing in the industry's past performance to justify this responsibility.

Clean air is an important part of our economy. Increases in pollution will erode the prosperity of our coastal communities, which heavily rely on tourism, retirement, and other health-related, recreational-oriented activities.

It is essential that the public stay involved in the process of setting environmental and public health priorities. If environmental laws are to protect the health and safety of the public, they must be enforced more consistently and vigorously.

How to comment on the proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program