The Environmental Protection Agency has issued its Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) rule that requires reporting of annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorochemicals (PFCs), and other fluorinated gases (e.g., nitrogen trifluoride [NF3] and hydrofluorinated ethers [HFEs]). The rule applies to downstream facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more CO2 equivalent and to upstream suppliers of fossil fuels and industrial GHGs. Reporting is at the facility level, except for certain suppliers that must report at the corporate level.

Are you Affected? Long Answer

To reduce the burden on small emitters, any facility with an aggregate maximum-rated heat-input capacity for all stationary fuel combustion units at the facility (combined) that is less than 30 million British thermal units per hour (mmBtu/hr), and that contains no other GHG emission source categories covered by methods in the rule requirements within its boundary, does not have to report. Stationary combustion units include boilers, combustion turbines, stationary engines, incinerators, process heaters, and other stationary fuel combustion equipment. If a building has an aggregate maximum-rated heat-input capacity above 30 mmBtu/hr, then the facility will need to do further calculations to determine if it meets the threshold for reporting. EPA has developed an online applicability tool (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/GHG-calculator/index.html) to help facilities assess if they are required to report.