“March 10, 2009: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes the first comprehensive national system for reporting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases produced by major sources in the United States.” The EPA issued a formal announcement in the April 10th Federal Register, available for download (EPA_FR_ProposedRule_041009.pdf ~2Mb).
Conversion Technology, Inc. (CTI) strives to keep our clients aware of regulatory developments as they happen, especially those which may directly impact their facilities. The latest EPA proposal is exactly that; a rule which could have a significant impact on a number of industrial facilities.
In this new rule, EPA proposes that industrial facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be required to submit annual reports to EPA. Examples of facilities that will fall under this mandatory requirement include:
- Facilities across industries that operate boilers, turbines, engines, incinerators, or process heaters;
- Lumber and wood products manufacturers;
- Steel/metal manufacturing and finishing facilities;
- Food processing plants;
- Pulp and paper mills;
- Cement manufacturers;
- Chemical manufacturers;
- Ethanol manufacturers;
- Electronics manufacturers;
- Landfills;
- Vehicle and engine manufacturers;
- Petroleum refineries and petrochemical production facilities;
- Power-generation facilities.
These facilities and others that generate carbon dioxide, methane, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, sulfur hexafluoride, and other fluorinated gases in amounts above the reporting threshold level of 25,000 metric tons are covered by this proposed mandate. Required annual reporting will begin in 2011 to cover emissions from the 2010 calendar year.
This proposed rule is under public comment until June 9, 2009. If you would like to make a comment on these rules, you can go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.regulations.gov).
CTI has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of air quality, assisting industrial facilities in obtaining and maintaining compliance with all applicable regulations. Our engineering staff is attentive to all developments regarding this proposed EPA rule and the effects that it may have on your specific facility. We will certainly remain responsive and inform you of any further regulatory implications. If we can provide any assistance regarding this developing matter, please do not hesitate to contact us at (770) 263-6330 or by email at cti@conversiontechnology.com.