EPA Offers Applicability Tool and Training Sessions for Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule

The final rule on Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) was signed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator September 22, 2009. Under the rule, suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial GHGs, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons of GHGs or more are required to submit annual emission reports to EPA. The gases covered by the rule are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and other fluorinated gases including nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and hydrofluorinated ethers (HFEs). The first annual reports for the large facilities, covering calendar year 2010, must be submitted to EPA in March 2011. The 2011 report should be based on process tracking that may need to start as early as January 2010. Vehicle and engine manufacturers (outside of light-duty sector) will start GHG reporting with model year 2011.

EPA has developed a number of tools and documents to assist reporters in understanding and complying with the rule. Resources include information sheets, checklists and technical support documents for individual source categories. More information about resources can be found at
www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/resources-tools.html.

EPA has also designed an Applicability Tool. The Applicability Tool is an application designed to help facilities assess whether the rule applies to them. The Applicability Tool is available at www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/GHG-calculator/index.html.

EPA will also host a number of web-based and in-person training sessions for people involved with reporting under Mandatory Reporting of GHGs Rule. For more information and training schedules please visit www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/training.html.

For more information on the new reporting system and reporting requirements, please visit www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html. DNR has posted a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on the rule here.