Publication Summary

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is proposing a rule to require reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from certain sources in the state.

The Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 34.05 RCW) requires that, before adopting a significant legislative rule, Ecology must, "Determine that the probable benefits of the rule are greater than its probable costs, taking into account both the qualitative and quantitative benefits and costs and the specific directives of the statute being implemented." [RCW 34.05.328(1)(c)]

For Ecology′s proposed rule regarding Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases (new Chapter 173-441 WAC), this means Ecology must estimate the impacts of Ecology′s proposed rule on individuals, businesses and the public. Impacts are determined by comparing the expected regulatory environment in the absence of Ecology′s proposed rule to the way greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting will occur under Ecology′s proposed rule. Due to uncertainty about the likely baseline, Ecology performed this analysis in comparison to two baselines: the proposed federal rule as the baseline, and no reporting as the baseline.

This document provides the public with an overview of the methods Ecology used to perform this analysis, and the likely impacts found. This is a preliminary analysis of Ecology′s proposed rule, and is based on the best and most appropriate information available at the time of publication. Ecology welcomes comments on the analysis and data that may improve the quality and accuracy of the results.