By Judy Sheahan
March 23, 2009

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 10 issued proposed guidelines requiring mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large sources. Large sources are defined as sources that emit 25,000 tons or more of GHG emissions per year. EPA was required to issue this guidance as a result of the FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (PL 110-161). The goal for reporting these emissions is to provide accurate data for future climate change policies.

The proposed rule applies to “suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial greenhouse gases, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of GHG emissions.” Most of the facilities that are proposed to submit reports are major manufacturers including cement, aluminum, petroleum refineries, etc. However, local governments may be included if they have electricity generating facilities that are subject to the Acid Rain Program or that emit 25,000 or more metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) or if they operate landfills that generate methane in amounts equivalent to 25,000 tons of CO2. Wastewater treatment plants were not included in the guidelines but industrial wastewater facilities were as well as boilers, stationary engines, process heaters, combustion turbines, and other fuel combustion equipment.

Under this proposal, the facilities would be required to electronically report the total facility emissions for all source and supply categories, onsite electricity in kilowatt-hours, quality control data, and other necessary information. The rule can be found at www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html . The public comment period is open for 60 days.