Posted on September 25, 2009 by Mary Ellen Ternes
On April 14, 2009, I alerted you to EPA’s proposed Mandatory GHG Reporting rule on April 10, 2009. And while we are still waiting for EPA’s Endangerment Finding, and new energy legislation may not see the Senate floor in 2009, we do have a final GHG rule. On September 22, 2009, EPA Administrator Jackson signed the final Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. This rule should be published in the Federal Register soon, so that it becomes effective before January 1, 2010. The rule imposes monitoring requirements beginning January 1, 2010, and reporting by impacted facilities and other entities by March 31, 2011.
With this rule, EPA is requiring reporting of Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) emissions by specified GHG emission source categories that exceed 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (“MTCO2”), or varying amounts of several other GHG representing equivalent amounts of emissions based upon their “global warming potential,” referred to as “CO2e.” The rule also requires emissions reporting from suppliers of fuels and industrial gases, as well as mobile source (vehicle) manufacturers. EPA finds its authority for this rule in the Clean Air Act, Sections 114 and 208. The GHGs tracked by the rule include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N20), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and other fluorinated compounds. Those familiar with the annual Inventory of United States GHG Emissions and Sinks will recognize the sources and GHGs tracked by this rule.
Generally, the final rule is not significantly changed from the proposed rule. However, several source categories were reserved. Thus, this final rule does not currently require reporting of the following source categories: electronics manufacturing, ethanol production, fluorinated GHG production, food processing, industrial landfills, magnesium production, oil and natural gas systems, SF6 from electrical equipment, underground coal mines, wastewater treatment, suppliers of coal.
Additionally, there are several important revisions. In response to significant objections to the “once in, always in” approach for reporting requirements, EPA also included provisions allowing exit from the program upon reduction of GHG emissions below certain thresholds. Specifically, if a facility decreases its emissions below 25,000 metric tons of CO2e per year for five years in a row, or decreases its emissions below 15,000 metric tons of CO2e per year for three years in a row, the facility can apply to exit the program. Facilities can also cease reporting if they shut down GHG-emitting processes or operations.
In response to concern about lack of adequate preparation time, EPA added a provision allowing the use of best available monitoring methods for the initial quarter of 2010, rather than the required monitoring methods. Impacted facilities needing a longer period of time to install necessary monitoring equipment can request an extension beyond March 2010, but not beyond 2010. EPA has also modified monitoring options, changed monitoring locations and allowed use of calculations rather than monitoring to lessen the monitoring burden.
All environmental practitioners will need to become familiar with the requirements of this rule due to its broad applicability. EPA has committed to posting guidance for each subpart and conducting training. EPA has even posted an “applicability tool” computer software program to assist in applicability determinations. This guidance cannot be available soon enough. Clients need to determine applicability and prepare for implementation immediately.
Tags: Air, EPA, Regulation, stationary sources, climate change, Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)