Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Data Elements for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule (Final Rule)

In response to the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764; Public Law 110-161) and under authority of the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA finalized a greenhouse gas reporting rule in October of 2009 (henceforth referred to as the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program or GHGRP) (74 FR 56260; October 30, 2009). The rule, which became effective on December 29, 2009, requires reporting of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from certain large facilities and suppliers. The GHGRP requires that sources emitting GHGs, supplying certain products that contain GHGs, or injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) underground in quantities above certain threshold levels of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) monitor and report GHG data and other relevant information. Subsequent rules have promulgated requirements for additional facilities, and suppliers; provided clarification and corrections to existing requirements; and finalized confidentiality business information (CBI) determinations, amended recordkeeping requirements, and implemented an alternative verification approach. This supporting statement addresses information collection activities that would be imposed by the final rule Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Data Elements Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. The final revisions consolidate amendments from the 2022 Data Quality Improvements Proposal and the 2023 Supplemental Proposal to amend specific provisions in the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule for the purposes of enhancing the quality of the data collected and clarifying elements of the rule. Specifically, the final revisions will more accurately reflect industry emissions through collection of additional data to understand new source categories or new emission sources for specific sectors, improving emissions calculation methodologies, and improving the accuracy of reported emissions by improving verification and eliminating data gaps. These final revisions are expected to result in an increase in respondent burden. See Section 4(b) and Table 1 of Attachment 1 for a complete list of final revisions to the reporting requirements. The EPA previously submitted ICRs on the proposed rules under OMB 2060-0629, ICR No. 2300.19 and OMB 2060-0748, ICR No. 2773.01. The EPA received a number of comments on the proposed revisions in both the 2022 Data Quality Improvements Proposal and the 2023 Supplemental Proposal. Following consideration of comments, the EPA has, in some cases, revised the final rule requirements, and in other cases, has decided to not take final action on proposed revisions. This ICR reflects the requirements of the final revisions.

The latest form for Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Data Elements for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule (Final Rule) expires 2028-01-31 and can be found here.