Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0133-0049
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2010-07-26T04:00Z

July 14, 2010

MEMORANDUM

TO: 			Air Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0133

SUBJECT:	Canola-Based Biodiesel Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions

This memorandum accompanies information related to the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) analysis of lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions for canola oil biodiesel.  As explained in the Notice of Data
Availability (NODA), our analysis utilizes several data sources and
models.  To facilitate public review, below is a brief description of
the informational materials which accompany this memorandum under the
same docket number.

1.  Lifecycle Analysis Inputs and Assumptions

This document lists EPA’s key modeling inputs and assumptions,
including citations for supporting data.

2.  Canola-Based Biodiesel Lifecycle Analysis Results

This spreadsheet integrates results from all stages of the fuel
lifecycle to calculate canola-based biodiesel lifecycle GHG emissions. 
The lifecycle GHG reductions are calculated as percent emissions
reductions compared to a 2005 petroleum baseline, in this case diesel
fuel.

3.  Lifecycle Analysis Impact Calculations

This spreadsheet calculates GHG emissions per unit of canola-based
biodiesel.  The spreadsheet integrates results from of each stage of the
renewable fuel lifecycle (e.g., feedstock production, domestic and
international agricultural emissions, fuel transport and distribution). 
The only piece of the lifecycle analysis not calculated in this
spreadsheet is the emissions from international land use change.  The
results from the impact calculation spreadsheet are used in the results
spreadsheet, which compares the lifecycle GHG emissions of canola-based
biodiesel with the 2005 petroleum baseline.

4.  Domestic Agricultural Projections from the Forest and Agricultural
Sector Optimization Model (FASOM)

This spreadsheet includes raw results from the FASOM model.  FASOM
results are used to estimate lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
produced by the domestic agricultural sector.

5.  GHG Factors from the Forest and Agricultural Sector Optimization
Model (FASOM)

This spreadsheet includes results from the FASOM model converted into
the format needed to calculate domestic agricultural sector and land use
change GHG calculations.  These results are input into the impact
calculation spreadsheet to convert the results to GHG emissions
estimates associated with canola biodiesel.  

6.  International Agricultural Projections from the Food and
Agricultural Policy Research Institute Center for Agricultural and Rural
Development (FAPRI-CARD) Model

This spreadsheet includes raw results from the FAPRI-CARD model for a
canola oil biodiesel scenario.  FAPRI-CARD results are used to estimate
lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by the international
agricultural sector.

7.  Calculation of Canola Biodiesel International Agricultural Impacts
from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute Center for
Agricultural and Rural Development (FAPRI-CARD) Model

This spreadsheet includes EPA’s calculations to convert the raw
FAPRI-CARD model results data into differences between scenarios to
determine biofuel-induced GHG emissions impacts in the international
agricultural sector associated with canola oil biodiesel production.

8. Stochastic International Land Use Change Model Results

This Excel-based model is used to perform EPA’s stochastic analysis of
international land use change GHG emissions impacts induced by
canola-based biodiesel.  The results from this model are input into the
results spreadsheet to calculate a 95% confidence range for lifecycle
GHG emissions.

9.  Foreign Agricultural Chemical Impact Calculations

This spreadsheet includes data about agricultural fertilizer inputs in
foreign countries.  It is used to project lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions produced by additional crop production in foreign countries. 
Specifically emissions associated with:

Fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide use per hectare of foreign crop
production;

Nitrous oxide emissions per metric ton of foreign fertilizer
application;

Upstream emissions from fertilizer production are calculated separately
in the impact calculation spreadsheet.

10.  Foreign Agricultural Energy Use Calculations

This spreadsheet includes data about agricultural energy use in foreign
countries.  It is used to project lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions produced by additional crop production in foreign countries. 
Specifically emissions associated with:

Energy use per hectare of foreign crop production

11.  Foreign Agricultural Rice Methane Calculations

This spreadsheet includes data about rice methane emissions in foreign
countries.  It is used to project lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions produced by additional crop production in foreign countries. 
Specifically emissions associated with:

Methane emissions per hectare of foreign rice production

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