Workshops around the state help explain how emitters will report their releases of greenhouse gases in Washington

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - October 1, 2009

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Workshops around the state help explain how emitters will report their releases of greenhouse gases in Washington

OLYMPIA – Starting next week, workshops held throughout Washington will help the state’s largest sources of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions get ready to report their releases in 2010.

Under House Bill 2815, Gov. Chris Gregoire and the 2008 Legislature required the owners or operators of large fleets of vehicles and large stationary sources of greenhouse gases to begin reporting their emissions in 2010. Lawmakers directed the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) to adopt a rule for developing and implementing an emissions reporting system.

“These workshops will help emitters learn about what they need to do to report their greenhouse gas emissions. The intent is to help them document and then reduce their emissions,” said Stuart Clark, who manages Ecology’s Air Quality Program.

Since August 2008, Ecology has worked with a stakeholder group on the proposed rule. Group members represented private and government fleets; power producers; manufacturers; pulp, paper and lumber mills; business groups; the environmental community, and other affected entities.

The proposed rule is now available for public review and comment. You can find it at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173441.html .

Ecology will accept public comments on the proposed rule from Oct. 7 through Nov. 12. Send written comments to Nancy Pritchett, Air Quality Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. E-mail comments to npri461@ecy.wa.gov .

Two public hearings on the proposed rule will be held in November:

Nov. 3 in Spokane – 6 p.m. at Ecology’s Eastern Regional Office, 4601 N. Monroe St.
Nov. 5 in Lacey – 6 p.m. at Ecology’s headquarters, 300 Desmond Drive SE.

Ecology anticipates adopting a final rule by early 2010. The first reporting period will be for 2009 emissions. Emitters whose 2009 emissions meet the reporting thresholds must report their emissions to Ecology by Oct. 31, 2010.

The rule will apply to owners or operators of:

A fleet of on-road motor vehicles that emits at least 2,500 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year in Washington. The state’s largest motor vehicle fleets will meet this threshold. They include trucking and delivery fleets, rental car companies, large customer service fleets (such as phone, cable or power companies) and large government-agency fleets.
A source or combination of sources that emits at least 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year in the state. Washington’s largest factories and power facilities will meet this threshold. They include refineries, pulp and paper mills, cement kilns, some lumber mills, large food processors, and some entities that use fossil fuels to generate power, steam, heat or cooling. Large fleets of aircraft, marine vessels or rail equipment also must report if they emit at least 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year in the state.

Starting next week, Ecology will host seven workshops around the state to go through the proposed rule with greenhouse gas emitters.

“We’ll answer questions for the workshop participants and help them get ready to start reporting their emissions in 2010, as state law requires,” said Sarah Rees, who leads the Air Quality Program team working on the emissions reporting system.

Here’s the workshop schedule:

Oct. 6 in Spokane – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Washington Department of Transportation, Whitman Conference Room, 2714 N. Mayfair St.
Oct. 7 in Moses Lake – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Big Bend Community College, ATEC Event & Conference Center, Masto Conference Center 1870 D, 7662 Chanute Street NE
Oct. 8 in Ellensburg – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hal Holmes Center, 209 N. Ruby St.
Oct. 9 in Richland – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ecology’s Richland Field Office, 3100 Port of Benton Blvd.
Oct. 14 in Lakewood – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tacoma-Clover Park Technical College, Building 19, Room 124, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood.
Oct. 16 in Vancouver – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ecology’s Vancouver Field Office, 2108 Grand Blvd.
Oct. 29 in Bellingham – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ecology’s Bellingham Field Office, 1440 10th St. Suite 102

Ecology staff also will offer an online “webinar” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26. You will need a computer and Internet connection to access the presentations at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/globalwarm_RegHaze/GHGworkshops.htm .

Audio will be available over the Internet or by toll-free call.

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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; spre461@ecy.wa.gov

Learn more about Washington’s response to climate change: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm

Workshop schedule: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/globalwarm_RegHaze/GHGworkshops.htm