40 CFR 98.232 - GHGs to report.

EPA published a direct final rule, Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule: Revision to Best Available Monitoring Method Request Submission Deadline for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Source Category, on February 19, 2013. That direct final rule amended the deadline by which owners or operators of facilities subject to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule are required to submit requests for use of best available monitoring methods (BAMM) to the Administrator. Because EPA received potentially adverse comments on the amendments in that direct final rule, we are issuing this notice to withdraw the direct final rule.

The EPA is taking direct final action to revise the deadline by which owners or operators of facilities subject to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule must submit requests for use of best available monitoring methods to the Administrator. This revision does not change any other requirements for owners or operators that are outlined in the best available monitoring method rule provisions.

The EPA is amending specific provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to provide greater clarity and flexibility to facilities subject to reporting emissions from the industrial waste landfill, petroleum and natural gas systems, fluorinated gas production, and electronics manufacturing source categories. These source categories will report greenhouse gas data for the first time in September 2012. The changes do not significantly change the overall calculation and monitoring requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule or add additional requirements for reporters. The EPA is also making confidentiality determinations for four new data elements for the fluorinated gas production source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Lastly, we are finalizing an amendment to the general provisions to defer the reporting deadline for a data element used as an input to an emission equation in the fluorinated gas production source category until 2015.

This action finalizes confidentiality determinations for certain data elements in regulations under the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. In addition, the EPA is finalizing amendments to defer the reporting deadline of certain data elements until 2013 and to defer the reporting deadline of certain data elements until 2015. Lastly, the EPA is finalizing amendments regarding the calculation and reporting of emissions from facilities that use best available monitoring methods. This action does not include final confidentiality determinations for data elements in the “Inputs to Emission Equations” data category.

The EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled “Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: Proposed Amendments and Confidentiality Determinations for Subpart I.” In addition, the EPA is notifying the public that additional documentation related to this proposed rule was entered into the docket on November 8, 2012.

This action proposes amending the calculation and monitoring methodologies for the Electronics Manufacturing, of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Proposed changes include revising certain calculation methods and adding a new method, amending data reporting requirements, and clarifying terms and definitions. This action also proposes confidentiality determinations for the reporting of the new and revised data elements. Many of these proposed actions are in response to a petition to reconsider specific aspects of our regulations. This document also proposes amendments to the General Provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to reflect proposed changes to the reporting requirements for the Electronics Manufacturing sector.

The EPA is amending specific provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to provide greater clarity and flexibility to facilities subject to reporting emissions from the industrial waste landfill, petroleum and natural gas systems, fluorinated gas production, and electronics manufacturing source categories. These source categories will report greenhouse gas data for the first time in September 2012. The changes do not significantly change the overall calculation and monitoring requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule or add additional requirements for reporters. The EPA is also making confidentiality determinations for four new data elements for the fluorinated gas production source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Lastly, we are finalizing an amendment to the general provisions to defer the reporting deadline for a data element used as an input to an emission equation in the fluorinated gas production source category until 2015.

This action finalizes confidentiality determinations for certain data elements in regulations under the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. In addition, the EPA is finalizing amendments to defer the reporting deadline of certain data elements until 2013 and to defer the reporting deadline of certain data elements until 2015. Lastly, the EPA is finalizing amendments regarding the calculation and reporting of emissions from facilities that use best available monitoring methods. This action does not include final confidentiality determinations for data elements in the “Inputs to Emission Equations” data category.