EPAs Collection for Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gas begins in 15 Weeks

9/22/09 EPA Website beings

WASHINGTON – On January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will, for the first time, require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas (GHG) data under a new reporting system. This new program will cover approximately 85 percent of the nation’s GHG emissions and apply to roughly 10,000 facilities.

“This is a major step forward in our effort to address the greenhouse gases polluting our skies,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “For the first time, we begin collecting data from the largest facilities in this country, ones that account for approximately 85 percent of the total U.S. emissions. The American public, and industry itself, will finally gain critically important knowledge and with this information we can determine how best to reduce those emissions.”

EPA’s new reporting system will provide a better understanding of where GHGs are coming from and will guide development of the best possible policies and programs to reduce emissions. The data will also allow businesses to track their own emissions, compare them to similar facilities, and provide assistance in identifying cost effective ways to reduce emissions in the future. This comprehensive, nationwide emissions data will help in the fight against climate change.

Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, are produced by burning fossil fuels and through industrial and biological processes. Fossil fuel and industrial GHG suppliers, motor vehicle and engine manufacturers, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of CO2 equivalent per year will be required to report GHG emissions data to EPA annually. This threshold is equivalent to about the annual GHG emissions from 4,600 passenger vehicles.

The first annual reports for the largest emitting facilities, covering calendar year 2010, will be submitted to EPA in 2011. Vehicle and engine manufacturers outside of the light-duty sector will begin phasing in GHG reporting with model year 2011. Some source categories included in the proposed rule are still under review.

More information on the new reporting system and reporting requirements: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html

The Rest @ EPA website

EPAs Mandatory GHG Reporting Rule passes OMB

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting final rule today cleared the Office of Management and Budget. The final rule is expected to require that emissions from both upstream production and downstream sources be reported, as the EPA administrator deems appropriate. This rulemaking establishes monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements on facilities that produce, import, or emit greenhouse gases above 25,000 CO2 equivalents annually.

The final rule is expected to require the first annual report to be submitted to EPA in 2011, for the calendar year 2010, except for vehicle and engine manufacturers, which will begin reporting for model year 2011.

The Rest @ the Cattle Network.

Here's more from Greenwire:

The White House has signed off on the Environmental Protection Agency's plan to establish a national greenhouse gas registry.

Greenwire reports in a story published in Thursday's New York Times that the Office of Management and Budget says it has completed its review of the proposal to require 13,000 facilities nationwide to report their carbon dioxide emissions. The EPA says those sources account for 85 to 90 percent of U.S. emissions.

REPORTING IN 2011

There's no word on when the agency will release the final rule. The initial draft released in March said the rule would affect facilities with direct emissions of at least 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, sparing what the EPA calls the "vast majority" of small businesses.

Industries would be required to file their first reports with EPA in 2011, based on data collected next year.

Vehicle and engine manufacturers would begin reporting their data in 2012 for the 2010 model year.


The Rest @ Cleanskies

Six Ways to Rate Cap & Trade

Foreign Affaris, the September October  2009 Edition, has several great climat related articles,
but one by Joel Kurtzman that makes the Journal purchase worthwhile: "The Low-Carbon Diet, How the Market Can Curb Climate Change". Here is an August Excerpt of the article published by the Milkin Institute.

He provides an excellent review of  the history of Cap and Trade Programs, and believes that a Green House Gas Cap & Trade Program is on the way here in the US.

He concludes with six design features that must be part of a successfull Cap and Trade System:

1. Firmly set long term emission caps that place an unambiguous limit on the amount of carbon dixoide  to be released over the long haul.
2. Permits must be allocated to emitters, ideally free to start.
3. Offset provisions that allow alternative ways of removing carbon from the atmosphere
4. Emitters should be allowed to "bank" their permits so they can use them in the future
5. All Emission activities must be professionally audited to insure that a ton of carbon is really a ton of carbon.
6. Regulators must refrain from setting a minimum or maxiumum price for emissions and must allow  the market to set its own

The Rest @ Foregin Affairs

Whether the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passes or not, The EPA is gettirg ready to publish in final form the reule they first published in draft  in 40 CFR Part 98, The Mandatory Reporting of Green House Gas, which will require the reporting GHG emissions in a variety of new business sectors.

After more and more emission data is gathered, wwe can count o n the EPA using the data to update the National Green House Gas Inventory, which will add weight to another push for Cap & Trade

In conclusion, lets get our GHG inventories ready, we will have to know what they are as a starting point, whether we have thought about emissions before or not.

-Editor

EPA - Tougher Standards for Hospital, Medical, and Infectious Waste Incinerators Emmisions

EPA Tightens Air Emissions for Hospital, Medical, and Infectious Waste Incinerators

Release date: 09/16/2009

Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-7849 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – EPA is setting new limits that will affect most existing hospital, medical, and infectious waste incinerators. This final action will reduce about 390,000 pounds of several pollutants each year including acid gases, nitrogen oxides, and metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. EPA is also finalizing additional testing, monitoring, and inspection requirements.
This final action revises the September 1997 new source performance standards and emission guidelines for these incinerators and responds to the Court remand of the regulations. It also satisfies the Clean Air Act requirement to conduct a review of the standards every five years.

The Rest @ the EPA

What is a A greenhouse gas inventory? The EPA Says....

A greenhouse gas inventory is an accounting of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to or removed from the atmosphere over a specific period of time (e.g., one year).

A greenhouse gas inventory also provides information on the activities that cause emissions and removals, as well as background on the methods used to make the calculations.

Policy makers use greenhouse gas inventories to track emission trends, develop strategies and policies and assess progress.

Scientists use greenhouse gas inventories as inputs to atmospheric and economic models.

To track the national trend in emissions and removals since 1990, EPA develops the official U.S. greenhouse gas inventory each year.

The national greenhouse gas inventory is submitted to the United Nations in accordance with the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Rest @ The US Envireonmental Protection Agency

Seven Steps to Success in a Low Carbon Business Environment

The Carbon Disclosure Project is about to complete it's massive benchmarking project, I understand they will release their report on 21 September.  What I find most interesting is the criterea they use to judge whether a company is likely to suceed in a " low carbon business environment".

They will use 7 criterea in ther upcoming report:

1. Offer transparency about their climate change activities and performance: Companies must report their emissions data and climate change strategies. Without transparency, they cannot be classed as high performers.

2. Demonstrate low-carbon intensity: Companies that are running the most carbon efficient operations demonstrate good carbon management and will be best positioned as we move to a low-carbon economy.

3. Establish and achieve emissions reductions plans: High-performing companies must implement emissions reductions plans and should detail any carbon cuts they have achieved so far and how they intend to continue to achieve their reductions. They should also publish forecasts for emissions and energy use.

4. Monitor and manage the evolving climate change agenda by engaging positively with policy makers: Leading companies are looking to policy makers for long-term regulatory incentives to enable them to make the necessary changes to their business to achieve a low-carbon economy.

5. Implement innovative ideas to capitalize on climate change opportunities and demonstrate good management of risks: The potential opportunities for some companies are enormous -- the provision of low-carbon technologies, products and services will generate large revenue streams for the companies who spot the opportunities early.

6. Demonstrate board-level involvement in climate change strategies: Companies that have appointed a board member to oversee climate change impacts demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of the issue.

7. Drive the business towards climate change mitigation by offering incentives, often financial, to employees for individual management of climate initiatives: More and more companies are now using incentives to encourage behavior change amongst employees, and as engagement regarding climate change increases, senior management is finding that such schemes also enhance staff recruitment and retention.


The Rest @ Climate Biz

What is a Nonattainment Area in Air Quality Standards?

In United States environmental law, a non-attainment area is an area considered to have air quality worse than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards as defined in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 (P.L. 91-604, Sec. 109).

Non attainment areas must have and implement a plan to meet the standard, or risk losing some forms of federal financial assistance.

 An area may be a nonattainment area for one pollutant and an attainment area for others.

The Rest @ Wikipedia

While this may have nothing to do with Green House Gases yet, I suspect that in Nonattainment areas, thresholds for reporting ghg emissions may be modified in the future

-Editor