Mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting is here. Is your company ready?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated the first federal requirement to report and monitor GHG emissions from approximately 10,000 industrial facilities representing 85% of GHG emissions in the U.S.

The reporting threshold is 25,000 metric tons of CO2e per year (actual emissions) or capacity-based thresholds depending on sector type. The rule also requires annual emissions reporting for the following (as applicable to facility):

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous oxide (N2O)
• Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
• Other fluorinated GHGs

Annual reporting is required with the first reports due on March 31, 2011 for 2010 emissions. This means that monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping activities must begin on January 1, 2010. Key compliance dates for companies include:

• 1/1/10 - Start data collection to calculate 2010 GHG emissions inventory
• 1/28/10 - Deadline to submit application to extend use of best available monitoring methods (must be submitted no later than 30 days after effective rule date)
• 3/31/10 - Monitors must be installed and calibrated. Begin using required monitoring methods (if extension is not obtained)
• 4/1/10 - Complete initial calibration for flow meters, scales, etc. needed to gather GHG data
• 4/1/10 - No deadline for submittal of monitoring plan; however, it must be in place if audited by EPA (expected to be in place by April 1, 2010)

You can start preparing for these deadlines by:

• Determining your applicability at the facility level
• Developing your compliance construct
• Finding out more about our greenhouse gas emissions software

For more information about the EPA GHG Mandatory Reporting Rule, download our white paper.

Learn more about Enviance's GHG FastTrack program here.