The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final greenhouse gas (GHG) permit to Dow Chemical Co. for an expansion at its plant near Freeport, TX. The facilities will process ethane and propane to produce products such as propylene and hydrogen, and they will include eight steam cracking-furnaces. When finished, the plant will produce 1.5 million tons of ethylene and other products such as propylene, butadiene and hydrogen each year (see Shale Daily, Dec. 13, 2012). The products are used in the chemical industry, as well as in the manufacturing of plastics, detergent and consumer chemicals. A Dow spokesman said, “the project remains on track to commence operations in the first quarter of 2017.” Texas is working to replace a federal GHG implementation plan with its own state program, which would eliminate the need for businesses to seek air permits from EPA. EPA has finalized 38 GHG permits in Texas, proposed an additional 10 permits, and currently has more than 22 additional GHG permit applications under review in Texas.