General Provisions
Final Rule: Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
United States
Environrnsntal ProtBdion
Agency
The Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) rule requires reporting of annual emissions of carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
perfluorochemicals (PFCs), and other fluorinatedgases (e.g., nitrogen trifluoride, hydrofluorinated ethers
[HFEs]). The rule (40 CFR 98) applies to certain facilities that emit GHGs and to suppliers of fossil fuels and
industrial GHGs. Manufacturers of vehicles and engines must report GHG emissions under other rules1 and
are not addressed further here. Reporting is at the facility level, except for certain suppliers that must report at
the corporate level.
Facilities and suppliers that are subject to the rule must comply with the General Provisions (40 CFR part 98,
subpart A) and the provisions of all other applicable subparts of 40 CFR 98.
What Facilities Must Report?
Applicability depends on the source categories located at the facility and, for some source categories, the
emission level or production capacity. An overview of the applicability provisions for facilities is outlined in
the figure below and explained in Tables 1 through 3. Table 6 (see page 5) provides examples of how these
applicability requirements apply to different types of facilities.
SOURCE CATEGORY
in TABLE 1?
YES
NO
SOURCE CATEGORY
in TABLE 2?
YES
NO
Emit > 25,000
metric tons/yr2
C02e?
COMBUSTION
UNITS in TABLE 3?
YES
NO
/NOT SUBJECT
V TO RULE
YES
Is the aggregate
maximum rated
heat in put capacity
> 30 mmBtu/hr?
YES
NO
1 See 40 CFR parts 86, 87, 89, 90, 94, 1033, 1039, 1042, 1045, 1048, 1051, 1054, and 1065. Also see the information sheet
on Mobile Sources.
2 Considering emissions from all source categories, stationary combustion units, and use of carbonates at the facility.
40 CFR 98, subpart A
September 2009
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EPA-430-F-09-006R
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Table 1. If the facility contains any of the source categories listed in this table in any calendar year starting in
2010, the rule requires the facility to report emissions from all source categories for which calculation
methodologies are provided in any subpart of the rule.
Adipic Acid Production Municipal Solid Waste Landfills that generate CH4
Aluminum Production in amounts equivalent to 25>°°° metric tons C°2e Per
year or more.
Ammonia Manufacturing „ . A ., „
Nitric Acid Production
Cement Production
Petrochemical Production
Electricity Generation facilities that report CO2
emissions year round through 40 CFR part 75 Petroleum Refineries
HCFC-22 Production Phosphoric Acid Production
HFC-23 Destruction Processes that are not collocated Silicon Carbide Production
with a HCFC-22 production facility and that destroy
more than 2.14 metric tons of HFC-23 per year. Soda Ash Production
Lime Manufacturing Titanium Dioxide Production
Manure Management Systems with combined CH4and
N2O emissions in amounts equivalent to 25,000 metric
tons CO2e per year or more.
Table 2. If the facility does not contain any of the source categories listed in Table 1, then the rule requires the
facility to determine whether it emits 25,000 metric tons or more of CO2e in combined emissions from stationary
fuel combustion, miscellaneous carbonate use, and the source categories listed in this table in any calendar year
starting in 2010. If so, the rule requires the facility to report emissions from all source categories for which
calculation methodologies are provided in any subpart of the rule.
Ferroalloy Production Lead Production
Glass Production Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
Hydrogen Production Zinc Production
Iron and Steel Production
Table 3. If the facility does not contain any of the source categories in Tables 1 or 2, then the rule requires the
facility to determine if the facility emits 25,000 metric tons1 or more of CO2e from stationary combustion in any
calendar year starting in 2010. If so, the facility must report emissions from stationary fuel combustion devices
only.
Boilers
Stationary Internal Combustion Engines
Process Heaters
Combustion Turbines
Other Fuel Combustion Equipment2
1 If the maximum-rated heat-input capacity for all stationary fuel combustion equipment combined is less than 30
million British thermal units (Btu) per hour, then the facility is presumed to emit less than 25,000 metric tons
CO2e, and the facility does not have to calculate or report emissions.
2 Excludes portable equipment, emergency generators, emergency equipment, agriculturual irrigation pumps,
hazardous waste combusters (except for co-fired fossil fuels), and flares.
40 CFR 98, subpart A 2 EPA-430-F-09-006R
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What Suppliers Must Report?
Tables 4 and 5 describe the suppliers of fossil fuels and industrial GHGs that must report.
Table 4. A supplier of fossil fuels listed in this table in any calendar year starting in 2010 must report the annual
quantities of fuels supplied into the economy each year and the emissions associated with the complete oxidation
of the fuels.
Coal-based Liquid Fuels: All producers. Importers and exporters above a threshold.
Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids: All natural gas fractionators and all local distribution companies.
Petroleum Products: All producers. Importers and exporters above a threshold.
Table 5. A supplier of industrial GHGs listed in this table in any calendar year starting in 2010 must report the
annual quantities of each gas supplied into the economy and the emissions associated with their complete release.
Suppliers include all producers and those importers or exporters above a threshold.
Fluorinated Gases
Nitrous Oxide
Carbon Dioxide
What Information Must Be Reported?
The annual GHG report must include the following information:
• Facility or supplier name and address,
• Year and months covered by the report
• For facilities that directly emit GHGs:
o Annual facility emissions in metric tons CO2e aggregated for all source categories (CO2 from
combustion of biomass is reported separately).
o Annual emissions for each source category located at the facility, in metric tons of each GHG.
o Additional information, such as unit- or process-level emissions, activity data (e.g., fuel use,
feedstock inputs), or quality assurance/quality control data specified in an applicable subpart.
• For suppliers:
o Annual quantity of GHG supplied, aggregated for all GHGs from all applicable supplier
categories and expressed in metric tons CO2e.
o Annual quantity of each GHG supplied from each supplier category, expressed in metric tons
of each GHG.
o Additional information specified in each applicable subpart, such as data used to calculate
GHG quantities or support QA/QC.
• A description of any "best available monitoring method" used for calendar year 2010 (see below).
• If missing data procedures were used to fill gaps in monitoring data, identify the data elements and
total hours in the year during which missing data procedures were used.
• A signed and dated certification statement
There are special provisions to simplify reporting during calendar year 2010:
• For the first quarter of 2010, reporters can use best available monitoring methods if it is not feasible to
obtain, install and operate a required piece of monitoring equipment by January 1, 2010. Reporters can
also request extensions for use of best available monitoring methods.
• Facilities containing only general stationary fuel combustion sources can submit an abbreviated
emission report (using simplified calculation methods) for calendar year 2010.
40 CFR 98, subpart A 3 EPA-430-F-09-006R
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How Must Reports Be Submitted?
The emission reports must be submitted electronically, in a format to be specified by the EPA Administrator
after publication of the final rule. Each report must be signed by a designated representative of the owner or
operator, certifying under penalty of law that the report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements
of the rule.
Can Reports Be Revised?
Reporters can submit revised annual GHG reports. They must be submitted within 45 days of discovering or
being notified by EPA of errors in the annual GHG report.
What Records Must Be Retained?
Each facility and supplier must retain the following records for three years in electronic or hardcopy format:
• A list of all units, operations, processes, and activities for which the reporter calculates GHG
emissions.
• Data used to calculate the GHG emissions for each unit, operation, process, and activity, categorized
by fuel or material type. These data vary by source category and include, but are not limited to:
o The GHG emission calculations and methods used.
o Analytical results for the development of site-specific emission factors.
o Results of all required analyses of high heat value, carbon content, or other required fuel or
feedstock parameters.
o Any facility operating data or process information used for the GHG emissions calculation.
• Annual GHG reports.
• Missing data computations. For each missing data event, also record the duration of the event, actions
taken to restore malfunctioning equipment, the cause of the event, and actions taken to prevent or
minimize occurrence in the future.
• A written GHG monitoring plan. The plan can rely on references to existing operating documents
(e.g., standard operating procedures, other documents), providing the following elements are included
and easily recognizable:
o Identification of positions of responsibility (i.e., job titles) for collecting GHG data.
o Explanation of processes and methods used to collect the data needed to calculate GHG
emissions.
o Description of procedures and methods used for quality assurance, maintenance, and repair of
monitoring systems used to provide data for the GHG reports.
• The results of all required certification and quality assurance tests of monitoring systems used to
provide data for the annual GHG report.
• Maintenance records for monitoring instrumentation.
• Any other data specified in any applicable subpart of this rule.
For More Information
This document is provided solely for informational purposes. It does not provide legal advice, have legally
binding effect, or expressly or implicitly create, expand, or limit any legal rights, obligations, responsibilities,
expectations, or benefits in regard to any person. The series of information sheets is intended to assist
reporting facilities/owners in understanding key provisions of the final rule.
Visit EPA's Web site (www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html) for more information,
including the final preamble and rule, additional information sheets on specific industries, the schedule for
training sessions, and other documents and tools. For questions that cannot be answered through the Web site,
please contact us at: ghgmrr@epa.gov.
40 CFR 98, subpart A 4 EPA-430-F-09-006R
September 2009
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Table 6. Examples of how the applicability criteria apply at different types of facilities.
Facility Description
Required to
Submit a
GHG Report?
Explanation
A lime manufacturing plant emits
22,000 metric tons per year (tpy) from
lime kilns.
Yes
Because lime manufacturing is a source category that is
listed in Table 1, the facility must submit a report
regardless of the amount of GHGs emitted.
A pulp mill emits 22,000 metric tpy
CO26 in combined emissions from
stationary fuel combustion and
carbonates.
No
Because pulp and paper manufacturing is a source
category listed in Table 2, the facility must report only if
emissions are 25,000 metric tpy CO2e or more.
A cheese manufacturing plant
contains:
• A gas-fired boiler that emits 15,000
metric tpy CO2e;
• A biomass-fired boiler that emits
10,000 metric tpy CO2e; and
• A wastewater treatment operation
that emits 9,000 metric tpy CO2e.
No
Because food processing and wastewater treatment are
not source categories listed in Tables 1 or 2, the facility
must report only if emissions from stationary fuel
combustion are 25,000 metric tpy CO2e or more. Because
combustion of biogenic fuels is excluded from the
applicability computation, nonbiogenic GHG emissions
for the facility are 15,000 metric tpy CO2e, and the
facility is not required to report.
An automobile assembly plant emits
30,000 metric tpy CO2e from a coal-
fired boiler.
Yes
Assembly plants are not a listed source category in
Tables 1 or 2, but the facility nevertheless must submit a
report because emissions from stationary fuel combustion
are 25,000 metric tpy CO2e or more.
A university emits 24,000 metric tpy
CO2e from a cogeneration unit and
2,000 metric tpy CO2e from coal
storage.
No
Because the rule does not prescribe a method for
calculating GHG emissions from coal storage, coal
storage emissions are not counted in determining
applicability.
An industrial gas facility emits
100,000 metric tpy CO2e from the
production of SF6.
Yes (as a
supplier)
No (as a
facility)
The facility is subject to reporting as a supplier of
industrial GHG because all industrial GHG producers
must report emissions from product sales. The facility is
not required to report direct emissions from the SF6
production processes because fluorinated GHG
production is not a listed source category in Tables 1 or
2.
A municipal solid waste landfill
generates an amount of CH4
equivalent to 40,000 metric tpy CO2e,
but collects and combusts 75 percent
of the CH4, emitting only 10,000
metric tpy CO2e.
Yes
For a municipal landfill, the 25,000 metric tpy CO2e
reporting threshold is based on gas generation, not on
actual emissions.
A petrochemical plant has stationary
fuel combustion units that emit 24,000
metric tpy CO2e from the combustion
of fossil fuels.
Yes
Because petrochemical production is a source category
listed in Table 1, the facility must report emissions from
the petrochemical operations and all stationary fuel
combustion units, even though the emissions from the
stationary combustion sources are less than 24,000 metric
tpy CO2e.
An electric utility plant that is
subject to the acid rain program
recovers CO2 from flue gas and sells
CO2 to an oil field operation. The
plant also operates small boilers and
internal combustion engines that
collectively emit 24,000 metric tpy
C02e.
Yes (as a
facility)
Yes (as a
supplier of
C02)
The facility would report emissions from units subject to
Acid Rain Program under the subpart D (Electricity
Generation) and emissions from the engines and other
boilers under subpart C (General Stationery Fuel
Combustion Sources). The facility would report as a
supplier, because a CO2 supplier includes any facility
with a process that captures CO2 for purposes of
supplying CO2 for commercial applications.
40 CFR 98, subpart A
September 2009
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