EPA Announces Nation’s First Greenhouse Gas Reporting System

New reporting rule may affect cities and counties with landfills, municipal power generation plants, stationary combustion equipment, or other large sources of emissions. See Guide for State and Local Agencies below for more information.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a new reporting system that will require large emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) to begin collecting data. Starting Jan. 1, 2010, local governments may be required to submit an annual GHG report if they own or operate facilities that fall under the new rules.

This system will apply to about 10,000 facilities, tracking approximately 85 percent of the nation’s GHG emissions. For example, stationary combustion equipment (with the exception of emergency generators and portable equipment) would likely qualify if a facility emits 25,000 metric tons or more of CO2e per year from all stationary fuel combustion sources.

Landfills that generate methane in amounts equal to 25,000 metric tons of CO2e or more per year would also qualify, as would municipal power generation plants that report to the EPA Acid Rain Program or emit more than 25,000 metric tons of CO2e per year. The 2010 annual GHG reports are due to EPA in March 2011.

Following are tools developed by the EPA to assist with the reporting process:

• Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule General Provisions Info Sheet
• Applicability Tool to help determine whether entities are required to report GHG emissions under the rule
• Guide for State and Local Agencies
• Guide on Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
• Guide on Stationary Fuel Combustion Sources
• Webinars and Training Opportunities

Please visit the EPA Web site for additional information or contact Carolyn Berndt at (202) 626-3101.