New GHG Reporting Requirements

On September 22, 2009, EPA issued final greenhouse gas reporting regulations. The text of the regulations, and some explanatory materials are available here.

In general, the regulations apply to certain industry categories and to generators of more than 25,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent GHGs. Reporting is, for the most part, based on emissions from a specific facility (not an entire company) but there are exceptions, for example for automobile manufacturers. Certain industry categories (petroleum refineries, cement manufacturing) are required to report regardless of the threshold; other industries that were proposed for inclusion in draft regulations have been exempted (e.g., electronics manufacturing), and agricultural emissions are mostly exempt. Most building owners will not be required to report emissions from boilers and facility equipment because those sources, even for a large building, are unlikely to meet the 25,000 metric ton threshhold. Similarly, virtually all state and local government facilities are likely to fall below the reporting threshhold. EPA estimates that the reporting regulations will cover 85 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from the United States.

Reporting will be required starting January 1, 2010, with the first report due March 31, 2011.

EPA's website has a list of frequently asked questions that help to answer some of the questions about applicability of the regulations, but this rule is just the beginning in what will likely be a more comprehensive set of reporting regulations.

-Morgan

Second Circuit Reinstates States' Nuisance Suits

The Second Circuit has reversed a district court decision and reinstated a nuisance suit, under the federal common law, against electric power providers brought by several states and environmental organizations. A copy of the decision is available here. The Second Circuit panel originally included Justice Sotomayor, but because of her elevation to the Supreme Court the two judges remaining on the panel decided the matter themselves.

-Morgan

New Pew Update to IPCC

And here's a new Pew Center report, updating the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report on the effects of climate change. There's no good news here.

-Morgan

White House Report on Climate Change

Thirteen federal agencies have published a new report on the impacts from global climate change. The key findings from the report, in very general form, can be found here. This report does not provide a prescription for legislative action, but its factual findings will support proponents of Waxman-Markey and other legislative action.

-Morgan

Scoping Plan

The California Air Resource Board's Climate Change Scoping Plan is available here.

EPA Endangerment Finding

EPA signed proposed endangerment and cause or contribute findings today.  The proposed findings and the technical backup are available here.  A sixty day comment period will begin when the proposed findings are published in the Federal Register.  EPA is also holding two public meetings on the proposed findings.  The west coast meeting will be held in Seattle on May 21.  

--Morgan

More Rumors About An Endangerment Finding

There are more rumors that an endangerment finding for greenhouse gases is imminent. Here's the latest from one of the New York Times' blogs.

-Morgan