MPCA Greenhouse Gas Reporting GHG Rules

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is requesting comments on planned new air quality rules requiring the annual reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Title V permit holders and any other air permit holders that emit more than a reporting threshold established between 10,000 to 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and are not required to report greenhouse gas emissions to EPA. The new rules will be codified in Minnesota Rules chapter 7019.

In 2009, MPCA was directed by the Minnesota Legislature to establish a system for reporting and maintaining an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in coordination with other regional or federal greenhouse gas emissions reporting and inventory systems. Shortly afterwards, EPA published a final rule requiring the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from specifically identified sources and from sources emitting more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, beginning in 2011. MPCA is developing an emission inventory system that will avoid potential double-reporting by integrating the data reported to EPA within the state greenhouse gas emission inventory.

The MPCA will develop the state greenhouse gas emission inventory system through several phases, beginning with the development of a reporting rule. The MPCA’s proposed rules will establish the Minnesota reporting threshold between 10,000 and 25,000 tons per year and will establish a due date for the submittal of greenhouse gas emission data. During this first phase of development, the MPCA intends to create rules that will apply to those facilities in Minnesota that hold a federal Title V air quality permit and are not required to report to the EPA under the federal regulations. The rules will also apply to those facilities that hold an air quality permit (other than a Title V permit) that are not required to report to the EPA and that emit more than the Minnesota reporting threshold

Interested parties can submit comments on these planned new rules and rule amendments in writing until July 21, 2010.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Minnesota to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

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