EPA Establishes Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting

The EPA is creating a nationwide database of greenhouse gas emissions, an important first step on the path to reducing U.S. emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency released a proposed “Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule” for sixty days of public comment, with a final rule expected in late 2009. The proposal would cover 85 to 90 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions. This process is the result of legislation passed in December, 2007 that directed the EPA to design a national, mandatory GHG emissions registry. EPA’s work on a national registry lagged under the previous administration, but has received fast-track priority under incoming Administrator Lisa Jackson.