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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, using its authority under the Clean Air Act, proposed a national greenhouse gas reporting framework that will impact roughly 13,000 facilities covering up to 90 percent of the country's emissions. The first report in 2011 would cover emissions from 2010.
The reporting rules lay the groundwork for future climate change legislation and would apply to facilities generating more than 25,000 metric tons of emissions annually, such as power generators, car manufacturers, industrial chemical suppliers and cement, iron and steel producers, among others.
"Through this new reporting, we will have comprehensive and accurate data about the production of greenhouse gases," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement. "This is a critical step toward helping us better protect our health and environment -- all without placing an onerous burden on our nation's small businesses."
The EPA estimates it will cost reporting companies about $160 million in the first year, and about $127 million in subsequent years.
There will be a 60-day comment period once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.
"Fisk Generating Station" -- CC licensed by Flickr user Señor Codo.
GHG reporting
When it comes to claims about carbon GHG reporting, there needs to be a common system of standards on measuring, monitoring and managing carbon footprints. CSA (the World Secretariat for the development of ISO 14064) recently launched the GHG CleanStart™ Registry , which is based on ISO 14064, but constructed in a way to help make carbon performance simple.
GHG
How does one come up with a determination that the basis for reporting begins at 25k tons? Is that strictly manufacturing plant and does it also include the transportation to and fro?
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GreenBiz Staff
fact check
Agree. 90% can't be all. What about agriculture?
Jack
13000 facilities and 90 percent emissions?
How is it possible that 90 percent of U.S. emissions can be accounted for by only 13,000 facilities when at least half of our emissions are transportation based, largely on individual automobiles? Can somebody please clarify this figure? Is it 90% of power generating emissions? Thanks!