March 31 Deadline for GHG Reports

March 31 Deadline for GHG Reports

Since 2012, electric utilities and certain industrial facilities must report their annual greenhouse gas emissions to EPA. Reports on 2014 emissions are due March 31, 2015. Since last year's Lion News feature on this topic (February 11, 2014), EPA has promulgated several amendments to the program. Read on for a summary of these amendments and how they could impact your report due next month.

1. Addition of Global Warming Potentials to the General Provisions; Amendments and Confidentiality Determinations for Fluorinated Gas Production

On December 11, 2014, EPA added chemical-specific and default global warming potentials (GWPs) for a number of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHGs) and fluorinated heat transfer fluids (F-HTFs) to the general provisions of the GHG reporting rule. Previously, these fluorinated GHGs and HTFs were not assigned GWPs. This means facilities that did not have to report in previous years may have to report in 2015 now that these GHGs and HTFs have been added to 40 CFR 98, Table A-1.

In the same rulemaking, EPA made conforming changes to the provisions for the Electronics Manufacturing and Fluorinated Gas Production source categories to incorporate these new GHGs and HTFs. EPA also amended provisions of the Fluorinated Gas Production category related to the level of detail in which emissions are reported. The Agency also clarified the emission factor method and eliminated the mass-balance emission calculation method. EPA also included an alternate verification approach in place of collecting certain data elements, especially those involving confidentiality determinations.

These amendments and additions will apply to reports due March 31, 2015.
 

2. Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems

On November 25, 2014, EPA finalized revisions to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems category, including changes to various calculation methods. The rule also included amendments to various monitoring and data reporting components, clarifications to certain definitions, and corrections to a number of technical and editorial errors identified by reporters over the past several years. EPA also finalized confidentiality determinations for new or substantially revised data elements.

This rule became effective January 1, 2015 but will not impact your report due March 31, 2015. It will affect your report due in 2016.


 

3. Revisions to Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Confidentiality Determinations

On October 24, 2015, EPA amended the reporting and recordkeeping requirements to include an alternative verification approach. This alternate approach includes new verification, recordkeeping, and reporting options without impacting EPA's ability to verify emissions and ensure compliance with the reporting rule.

This rule became effective November 24, 2014. It will apply to reports due March 31, 2015.

Submitting Your Greenhouse Gas Report

The deadline for reporting is March 31. All reports must be submitted electronically through the e-GGRT. Paper submissions are not accepted. For security and confidentiality, facilities must register with the e-GGRT before filing reports. This process can be lengthy. EPA provides support via phone (877-444-1188) and e-mail (GHGMRR@epa.gov).

New Clean Air Act Regulations Now Available

A new online course is now available to help environmental engineers, EHS managers, and compliance officers keep their facilities in compliance with the US EPA’s Clean Air Act programs. The Clean Air Act Regulations guides professionals through compliance with Title V permit requirements, emissions and pollution controls, annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, Risk Management Planning (RMP) responsibilities, and more. 

Build the expertise needed to make informed on-the-job decisions that help your site control pollution and maintain compliance. Interactive, easy to use, and available 24/7, the new online course will help you get up to speed with new and changing EPA clean air rules and protect your facility from costly EPA enforcement. 

Tags: Clean Air Act, EPA, Recordkeeping and Reporting