WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that, beginning Jan. 1, 2010, it will require large emitters of emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas data under a new reporting system. EPA said this new program will apply to roughly 10,000 facilities and cover approximately 85 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“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 said its new reporting system will provide a better understanding of where greenhouse gases are coming from and will guide development of the best possible policies and programs to reduce emissions. The agency added that this nationwide emissions data will help in the fight against climate change.

Suppliers of fossil fuels and industrial greenhouse gases, motor vehicle and engine manufacturers, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases per year will be required to report emissions data to EPA annually. Gases covered by the rule include HFCs.

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 greenhouse gas reporting with model year 2011. Some source categories included in the rule are said to be still under review.

For more information on the new reporting system and reporting requirements, visit www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html.

Publication date: 09/28/2009