NOTE from Fluoride Action Network: The US EPA’s final rule for mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases was published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2009
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Facilities subject to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Rule start data collection and compilation.
The Final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule became effective effective December 29, 2009. The rule requires reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large sources and suppliers, and is intended to collect accurate and timely emissions data to inform future policy decisions.
Under the rule, 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 are required to submit annual reports to EPA. The gases covered by the proposed rule are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and other fluorinated gases including nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and hydrofluorinated ethers (HFE).
The final rule was signed by the Administrator on September 22, 2009. On October 30, 2009, the final rule was published in the Federal Register (www.regulations.gov) under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0508-2278.
Quantifying air emissions can be accomplished several ways, including a hybrid of direct measurement, often accomplished by stack testing and/or using a CEMS) and facility specific calculations. Facilities already reporting and collecting emissions data (e.g., via CEMS under the U.S. Acid Rain Program) must use direct measurement of emissions. Other source categories can use facility-specific calculations (e.g. feedstock, mass balance). Emission Factors may also be applied in some cases.