accurate and verified Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting in preparation for a future Greenhouse Gas "Cap and Trade" regime.
The Regulation applies to facilities conducting specified activities that emit greater than 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (C02e) per year. The identified activities include general stationary combustion, electricity generation, petrochemical production, petroleum refining and others. There are 30 Greenhouse Gases listed in Table 1 of the Regulation for inclusion in the C02e calculation.
Tracking should have started in January 2010 in order to submit the first report on June 1, 2011. For the first reporting year (2010), facilities have the option of using a range of quantification methods. However starting in 2011, emissions must be calculated using mandated quantification methods which, in some cases, require instrument calibration and stream sampling. Third party verification will be required for emissions calculated in 2011 and every year thereafter.
Who Will Be Required to Report?
The threshold for reporting for this regulation is lower than the Federal Greenhouse Gas (GHG) threshold of 50,000 tonnes per year of CO2e. If your facility reports to the Federal GHG registry, you will need to report under this regulation. Otherwise, your facility will need to calculate the annual CO2e emissions to determine your requirement to report provincially.
Will this be Harmonized with Current Emissions Reporting?
Currently, annual reporting for NPRI, and Ontario Reg 127 reporting is done through the OWNERS website. It is anticipated that this new reporting will also be done using the OWNERS website.
One Window to National Environmental Reporting System (OWNERS) Web site: www.owners.gc.ca
Impact on Facilities
A number of facilities that don’t currently report Greenhouse Gases will be required to report due to the lower threshold. The methods for estimating GHG are prescribed by the regulation, and may differ from those used in the past for the Federal GHG reporting. This regulation will require validation of emission estimates and this translates into more onerous requirements such as flow meter calibration and fuel stream sampling. Facilities will need to hire a third party Accredited Verification Body (AVB) to verify the annual emissions calculations using ISO 14064-3.
Questions?
If you have questions on Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting, please contact:
Sid Lethbridge
slethbridge@lehder.com
Tel: 519.336.4101 ext. 222
Marnie Freer
mfreer@lehder.com
Tel: 519-336-4101 ext. 226 |
