This document was developed for the Proposed Mandatory GHG Reporting Rule.
For the final document, please visit the final Mandatory Reporting of
Greenhouse Gases Rule.
Suppliers of Coal-based Liquid Fuels
United Slates
Proposed Rule: Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Environmental Protection
Under the proposed Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) rule, suppliers of coal-
based liquid fuels that meet the applicability requirements of the rule (see information sheet on
General Provisions) would report GHG emissions associated with the complete combustion or
oxidation of the coal-based liquids that they place into commerce.
How Is This Source Category Defined?
Under the proposal, this source category consists of producers, importers, and exporters of coal-based
liquid fuels. A producer of coal-based liquid fuels is any owner or operator who converts coal into liquid
fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel) using the Fischer-Tropsch or an alternative process.
What GHGs Would Be Reported?
The proposal calls for suppliers of coal-based liquid fuels to report the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
that would result from the complete combustion or oxidation of coal-based liquid fuels.
How Would GHG Emissions Be Calculated?
Under the proposal, for each type of coal-based liquid fuel, suppliers would calculate the CO2 emissions
by multiplying the measured annual volume of coal-based liquid produced, imported, or exported by an
emission factor. The volume of coal-based liquid fuel would be determined using flow meters for
producers and by executed sales contracts for importers and exporters. For the emission factor, suppliers
would select from one of two options:
• Use a default emission factor corresponding to the type of fuel.
• Develop their own emission factor using any one of the following methods:
o Direct measurement of the density and weight percent carbon in the coal-based liquid
fuel.
o Direct measurement of the density of the carbon-based liquid fuel and a default weight
percent carbon content.
o Direct measurement of the weight percent carbon in the coal-based liquid fuel and a
default density.
If the supplier develops its own emission factor, it would collect samples of the coal-based liquid fuel
each month and analyze the composite sample at the end of the reporting year. If seasonal gasoline were
produced, imported, or exported, then the supplier would collect monthly samples only during the season,
and the supplier would test the composite sample at the end of the season.
What Information Would Be Reported?
In addition to the information required by the General Provisions at 40 CFR 98.3(c), the proposal calls for
producers, importers, and exporters of coal-based liquid fuels to report the following information:
March 2009 1 EPA-430-F-09-043
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This document was developed for the Proposed Mandatory GHG Reporting Rule.
For the final document, please visit the final Mandatory Reporting of
Greenhouse Gases Rule.
• Producers would report the following information for each facility:
o Annual volume of each coal-based liquid supplied.
o Annual CO2 emissions associated with each coal-based liquid supplied to the economy.
• Importers would report the following information at the corporate level:
o Annual volume of each coal-based liquid imported.
o Annual CO2 emissions associated with each coal-based liquid imported.
• Exporters would report the following information at the corporate level:
o Annual volume of each coal-based liquid exported.
o Annual CO2 emissions associated with each coal-based liquid exported.
For More Information
This series of information sheets is intended to assist reporting facilities/owners in understanding key
provisions of the proposed rule. However, these information sheets are not intended to be a substitution
for the rule. Visit EPA's Web site (www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html) for more
information, including the proposed preamble and rule and additional information sheets on specific
industries, or go to to access the rulemaking docket (EPA-HQ OAR-2008-0508).
For questions that cannot be answered through the Web site or docket, call 1-877-GHG-l 188.
March 2009 2 EPA-430-F-09-043
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