ABOUT 70 bureaucrats are working on the Federal Government's emissions trading scheme - despite the fact it may never get off the ground. 

Federal parliament will soon vote on the troubled ETS for the third time and it appears set for defeat.

A Senate estimates' hearing has been told 154 staff are working on matters relating to the ETS.

Most are working on the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, which is likely to be used whether the ETS passes or not.

About 70 of the 154 are working on implementing the ETS, on things like auctioning permits, information technology and business processes.

The budget for staff who are working in the area, and who would be transferred to the ETS bureau if it passed parliament, was $57 million for 2009-10, the hearing heard.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong told the hearing it was important to be prepared for the ETS.

The opposition has a rival climate scheme which would appear to require the staff from NGERS.