Research Article: Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting: Are You Sure You Are Not Applicable?

Abstract

The final Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule (40 CFR 98) was published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2009. As the initial reporting due date approaches in the summer of 2011, potentially affected greenhouse gas (GHG) source facilities are in the process of determining applicability to the standard and implementing the required monitoring and record-keeping requirements. Environmental professionals around the United States are focused on researching the details of their specific GHG regulated source category and are attempting to confirm that the regulation is not applicable to their industry and/or operating facilities. These professionals are typically required to provide ongoing regulatory compliance support to their individual company or group of clients. Performing the GHG applicability determination is a critical step to documenting overall compliance with current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Based on the level of analysis and calculations required to determine applicability and the anticipated EPA updates to bring in additional source categories, this article is intended to provide environmental professionals with valuable regulatory information on one of the more significant environmental regulations promulgated in the last 10 years.