EPA Opens Comment Period for GHG Reporting Proposal

An EPA proposal for the first comprehensive U.S. national system for reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is now open for comment.

The Proposed Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule would cover about 13,000 facilities that account for nearly 85 to 90% of the nation's GHG emissions.  Some of the sectors covered by the system would include electricity generation, cement production, and iron and steel production.  All of these sectors are already covered now by the fully functioning European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

Lisa Jackson, EPA administrator, said, "Our efforts to confront climate change must be guided by the best possible information.  Through this new reporting, we will have comprehensive and accurate data about the production of greenhouse gases."

The rule is being proposed under the authority of the Clean Air Act.

For those wanting to comment about the proposed rule, click here.  The 60 day comment period began April 10.