Reporting of greenhouse gas emissions subject of public hearings next week in Spokane and Lacey

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - October 30, 2009

09-260

Reporting of greenhouse gas emissions subject of public hearings next week in Spokane and Lacey

OLYMPIA – Two public hearings next week will focus on how the state's largest sources of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions will report their releases.

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 start 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.

Ecology's proposed rule is available for public review and comment. You can find it at www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173441.html.

Here's the schedule for next week's hearings on the proposed rule:

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

Ecology will accept public comments on the proposed rule 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.

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.

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.

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.

Ecology hosted seven workshops around the state and an online “webinar” to go through the proposed rule with greenhouse gas emitters. More than 300 people participated in these events.

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

More information:
Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases
Washington's response to climate change: www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm