Olander Chosen for EPA Science Advisory Board Panel

DURHAM, N.C. – Lydia Olander has been named to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board panel focused on analyzing the impacts of emissions from bioenergy and biogenic stationary sources.

Olander, who is the director for the ecosystem services program at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, is among the experts on the 18-member Biogenic Carbon Emissions Panel. In this role, Olander provides the agency advice and counsel on the technical and scientific aspects of their report “Accounting Framework for Biogenic CO2 Emissions from Stationary Sources.”

In January, the agency announced it was reconsidering its position that emissions from these sources—including electric utilities burning biomass, solid waste incinerators, ethanol manufacturing facilities and manure management operations—should be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

The report is the culmination of an EPA study into the feasibility of accounting for these emissions. It looks at the impact of the carbon dioxide emissions and goes over recommendations for their regulation.

Olander and others are scheduled to review the document in Washington, D.C. in late October.

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