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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Environmental Software

EPA has issued the Final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule. The rule requires reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from large sources and suppliers in the United States, and is intended to collect accurate and timely emissions data to inform future policy decisions.

The final rule for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions was signed by EPA on September 22, 2009 and became effective December 29, 2009. Under the GHG rule, suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial greenhouse gases, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of GHG emissions are required to submit annual reports to EPA. The gases covered by the rule are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and other fluorinated gases including nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and hydrofluorinated ethers (HFE).

What is CO2e (Carbon Equivalence) and GWP?

  • GHGs have varying heat-trapping abilities and atmospheric lifetimes.
  • Global warming potential (GWP) is a metric used to compare emissions among GHGs.
  • The GWP of CO2 is 1.0, and the GWP of other GHGs are expressed relative to CO2

Example Carbon Equivalence : CH4 has a GWP of 21. Each metric ton of CH4 emissions would have 21 times as much impact on global warming as a metric ton of CO2 emissions.

Mass emissions x GWP = CO2e (metric tons)

What sources should report?

  • All-in Source Categories
    • Electricity Generation if report CO2 year-round through Part 75
    • Adipic Acid Production
    • Aluminum Production
    • Ammonia Manufacturing
    • Cement Production
    • HCFC-22 Production
    • HFC-23 Destruction Processes that are not collocated with a HCFC-22 production facility and that destroy more than 2.14 metric tons of HFC-23 per year
    • Lime Manufacturing
    • Nitric Acid Production
    • Petrochemical Production
    • Petroleum Refineries
    • Phosphoric Acid Production
    • Silicon Carbide Production
    • Soda Ash Production
    • Titanium Dioxide Production
    • Municipal Solid Waste Landfills that generate CH4 equivalent to 25,000 metric tons CO2e or more per year
    • Manure Management Systems that emit 25,000 metric tons CO2e or more per year
  • Threshold Source Categories
    • Ferroalloy Production
    • Glass Production
    • Hydrogen Production
    • Iron and Steel Production
    • Lead Production
    • Pulp and Paper
    • Manufacturing
    • Zinc Production
  • Stationary Combustion Units
    • Boilers
    • Stationary Internal Combustion Engines
    • Process Heaters
    • Combustion Turbines
    • Incinerators
    • Other Stationary Fuel Combustion Equipment

What Is Not Reported?

Indirect emissions (e.g., electricity use)

  • Mobile source emissions (e.g., fleet emissions, off-road equipment)
  • Emission offsets
  • Carbon sequestration

Have you established your facilities carbon footprint?

Do you know which sources need to be tracked?

At ERA, our experienced scientists can help you apply customized software to monitor and report GHG Emissions. Well help you determine what you need to track to be in compliance and we can also help you take the necessary steps to reduce GHG emissions and create a sustainable environment.

For additional information or to speak to a representative, contact us or phone
256-232-4437