Air Quality > Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule

Chapter 173-441 WAC - Reporting of Emission of Greenhouse Gases

Purpose

This rule making adopts a mandatory greenhouse gas reporting rule for:

1. Facilities that emit at least 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases per year in Washington; or
2. Suppliers of liquid motor vehicle fuel, special fuel, or aircraft fuel that supply products equivalent to at least 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year in Washington.

This rule making establishes a new chapter, Chapter 173-441 WAC – Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases.

Final Rule

The Department of Ecology adopted Chapter 173-441 WAC – Reporting of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases on December 1, 2010. The rule becomes effective on January 1, 2011. Reporting requirements begin January 1, 2012.

• Adopted rule text
• WAC 173-441 was authorized to proceed under Gov. Chris Gregoire’s criteria for the rule suspension because it is required by state law

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6373, Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ecology sponsored legislation to align Washington's greenhouse gas reporting requirements with EPA rules. The Legislature passed it and Governor Gregoire signed it into law on March 19, 2010.

• Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6373, Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Substitute Senate Bill 6373 Bill History
• Previous authorizing statute: Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2815

Code Reviser Filings

• Rule-making Order (CR-103 form - 12/01/10)
• Concise explanatory statement - Response to comments
• Proposed rule making (CR-102 – 8/26/10)
• Pre-proposal statement of inquiry (CR-101 - 5/18/10)
• Ecology has withdrawn the previous code reviser filings for Chapter 173-441 WAC (CR-101 - 7/23/08 and CR-102 - 9/21/09)

Press Releases>

• Ecology invites comments on revised rule for reporting of greenhouse gas emissions
• Governor signs bills to protect citizen health and environment
• Reporting of greenhouse gas emissions subject of public hearings next week in Spokane and Lacey (October 30, 2009)
• Workshops around the state help explain how emitters will report their releases of greenhouse gases in Washington (October 1, 2009)
• Work starts on rules for reporting greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state (August 5, 2008)

Web Links

Climate Change in Washington

• Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 6373, Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• October 2009 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule Workshops
• Executive Order 07-02: Washington Climate Change Challenge
• Governor Gregoire’s Climate Change Challenge Policy Brief
• Department of Ecology – Climate Change
• Department of Commerce - Climate Change & Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Fact Sheet on Climate Change
• Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Washington’s Economy

Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Climate Change Outside of Washington

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule
• Western Climate Initiative (WCI
• The Climate Registry
• The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol
• U.S. EPA Climate Leaders
• Western Governors’ Association
• California Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Rulemaking
• California Climate Action Registry
• Oregon Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rulemaking
• New Mexico Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules
• Arizona Climate Action Initiative
• Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative>
• Pew Center on Global Climate Change - State Legislation from Around the Country
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• European Union - Greenhouse Gas Monitoring and Reporting
• United Kingdom Climate Change Programme
• Australia - Greenhouse and Energy Reporting