EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday issued a final rule that will require—for the first time—most large emitters of greenhouse gases to begin recording data under a new reporting system starting in 2010.
The final mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases rule, which will apply to some 10,000 facilities, is expected to cover about 85% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Mandatory data collection will begin for most facilities on Jan. 1, 2010, and the annual reports for the largest emitting facilities will be submitted to the EPA by March 31, 2011.
Vehicle and engine manufacturers outside of the light-duty sector will begin phasing in greenhouse gas reporting with model year 2011. Some source categories included in the proposed rule are still under review.
The rule covers all facilities that emit 25,000 tons or more of the most dangerous heat-trapping gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and other fluorinated gases.
This rule was prepared in accordance with the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which was signed into law in December 2007. The EPA issued the rule pursuant to its authority under the Clean Air Act.
The agency said that it had made several changes from a rule proposed in April 2009, including revising the source and supply categories. Under the final rule, for example, oil and natural gas systems, and suppliers of coal are not required to report at this time.
The changes also allow facilities and suppliers that show five consecutive years of emissions below 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide or three consecutive years of emissions below 15,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide to stop reporting their greenhouse gas emissions.
The new reporting system will help it provide a better understanding of where greenhouse gases are coming from and will guide “development of the best possible policies and programs to reduce emissions,” the agency said.
Source: EPA