Health and Safety for Workers, Students, and Families

Will your facility be required to report emissions
under the EPA's new Greenhouse Gases Rule?

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The EPA’s new Greenhouse Gases Rule (GHG Rule) is on a fast track for implementation at the start of 2010. When the Rule goes into effect, its new, more stringent requirements may come as an unpleasant surprise to some businesses.

Which facilities will be required to monitor and report emissions?

• Suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial greenhouse gases, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of GHG emissions per year
• Those industries identified by certain North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes

All qualifying facilities will be required to submit annual reports to the EPA starting with calendar year 2010.

How many facilities will be affected?

The EPA estimates that about 25,000 to 35,000 U.S. businesses, organizations, government agencies, and universities will be required to monitor and annually report emissions. By comparison, under current emissions monitoring regulations (the 2008 NO_x Budget Trading Program), only about 2,600 facilities are required to report emissions.

Be aware, though, that the number of facilities initially required to report will be much higher than 35,000.  Why?  Because the EPA will require initial monitoring to determine which facilities must report annual GHG emissions. And if you report once, you will be required to report annually thereafter so the EPA can track emissions changes.

What does reporting entail?

The largest burdens will probably be the substantial recordkeeping involved, conducting ongoing monitoring, and learning the methods used to calculate overall emissions as defined by the GHG Rule. The new methods are similar to those developed by the World Resources Institute and World Business Council’s GHG Protocol. Acquiring the equipment necessary to accurately monitor emissions will also be critical.

Get ready!

Emissions monitoring under the new GHG Rule will begin on January 1, 2010—so facilities must have monitoring systems fully in place a few short months from now.

Need more information?

See these frequently asked questions about the GHG Rule.

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Tim Nickell, CHMM, Argus Pacific, Inc.

photo credit: gothopotam