March 16, 2009—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the first comprehensive nationwide system for reporting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases produced by major sources in the United States.
In developing the reporting requirements, EPA considered the substantial amount of work already finished and underway in many states, regions and voluntary programs.
Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, are produced by the burning of fossil fuels and through industrial and biological processes, notes EPA. Approximately 13,000 facilities, accounting for about 85 percent to 90 percent of greenhouse gases emitted in the United States, would be covered under the proposal.
This threshold is roughly equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from just over 4,500 passenger vehicles. The vast majority of small businesses would not be required to report their emissions because their emissions fall well below the threshold.
The direct emission sources covered under the reporting requirement would include energy intensive sectors such as cement production, iron and steel production, and electricity generation, among others.
EPA is developing this rule under the authority of the Clean Air Act. For more information, see the Web site.
