EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Reporting Requirements
for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry/Reporting targets methane, a
potent greenhouse gas and valuable fuel
Release date: 11/09/2010
Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn (News Media
Only) Milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-7849 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON - The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized greenhouse gas
(GHG) reporting requirements for the petroleum and natural gas
industries as part of the mandatory reporting program. The petroleum and
natural gas industries emit methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases, and are one of the largest human related sources of methane in
the United States. Annual methane emissions from intentional venting and
equipment leaks from these industries are comparable to annual emissions
from more than 40 million passenger cars.
The data collected through the reporting program
will provide important information about GHG emissions from petroleum
and natural gas facilities. While methane is a potent greenhouse gas,
trapping more than 20 times as much heat as carbon dioxide, it is also
the primary component of natural gas, a valuable fuel. The data
collected by the companies will help identify cost effective ways to
minimize the loss of methane.
Beginning in 2011, petroleum and natural gas
facilities that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent a year are required to monitor and report all greenhouse gas
emissions to EPA. Data collection for petroleum and natural gas sources
will begin January 1, 2011, with first annual reports due to EPA March
31, 2012.
EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, launched in
October 2009, requires the reporting of GHG emissions data from large
emission sources and fuel suppliers across a range of industry sectors.
The data will help guide the development of programs to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information on this rulemaking:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/subpart/w.html
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