Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/05/21/2012-12193/2012-technical-corrections-clarifying-and-other-amendments-to-the-greenhouse-gas-reporting-rule-and
Timestamp: 2018-09-23 12:14:15
Document Index: 769812786

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Federal Register :: 2012 Technical Corrections, Clarifying and Other Amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, and Proposed Confidentiality Determinations for Certain Data Elements of the Fluorinated Gas Source Category
2012 Technical Corrections, Clarifying and Other Amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, and Proposed Confidentiality Determinations for Certain Data Elements of the Fluorinated Gas Source Category
A Proposed Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 05/21/2012
Comments. Comments must be received on or before June 20, 2012.
29935-29953 (19 pages)
E. How would these amendments affect confidentiality determinations?
II. Technical Corrections, Clarifying and Other Amendments
3. Overview and Approach to Proposed CBI Determinations
2. Proposed Technical Corrections
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-12193 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-12193
Public Hearing. The EPA does not plan to conduct a public hearing unless requested. To request a hearing, please contact the person listed in the following FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by May 29, 2012. Upon such request, the EPA will hold the hearing on June 5, 2012, in the Washington, DC area. The EPA will provide further information about the hearing on the GHGRP Web site, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html if a hearing is requested.
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147, by one of the following methods:
Email: MRR_Corrections@epa.gov. Include Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147 [and/or RIN number] in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Mailcode 2822T, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be confidential business information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Should you choose to submit information that you claim to be CBI in response to this notice, clearly mark the part or all of the comments that you claim to be CBI submitted in response to this notice. For information that you claim to be CBI in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information marked as CBI will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. Send or deliver information claimed as CBI to only the mail or hand/courier deliver address listed above, attention: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147.
If you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or email. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an “anonymous access” system, which means the EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA without going through http://www.regulations.gov your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, the EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If the EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, the EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
Carole Cook, Climate Change Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs (MC-6207J), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9263; fax number: (202) 343-2342; email address: GHGReportingRule@epa.gov. For technical information, please go to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule Program Web site at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html. To submit a question, select Rule Help Center, followed by Contact Us. To obtain information about the public hearing or to register to speak at the hearing, please go to http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html. Alternatively, contact Carole Cook at 202-343-9263.
Worldwide Web (WWW). In addition to being available in the docket, an electronic copy of this proposal will also be available through the WWW. Following the Administrator's signature, a copy of this action will be posted on the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Web site at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html.
Regulated Entities. The Administrator determined that this action is subject to the provisions of Clean Air Act (CAA) section 307(d). See CAA section 307(d)(1)(V) (the provisions of section 307(d) apply to “such other actions as the Administrator may determine”). These are proposed amendments to existing regulations. If finalized, these amended regulations would affect owners or operators of direct emitters of GHGs. Regulated categories and examples of affected entities include those listed in Table 1 of this preamble:
Table 1 of this preamble is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather lists the types of facilities that the EPA is now aware could be potentially affected by the reporting requirements. Other types of facilities not listed in the table could also be subject to reporting requirements. To determine whether you are affected by this action, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria found in 40 CFR part 98, subpart A or the relevant criteria in the sections related to direct emitters of GHGs. If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular facility, consult the person listed in the preceding FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
acf actual cubic feet
AGR acid gas removal
CEMS continuous emissions monitoring system
mcf methane correction factor
MMscf million standard cubic feet
MRV monitoring, reporting and verification
PFCs perfluorocarbons
The first section of this preamble contains the basic background information about the origin of these proposed rule amendments and request for public comment. This section also discusses the EPA's use of our legal authority under the Clean Air Act to collect data under the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Reporting Rule, hereinafter referred to as the “GHG Reporting Rule.”
The second section of this preamble describes in detail the changes that are being proposed to correct technical errors, to provide clarification, or to address implementation issues identified by the EPA and others. This section also presents the EPA's rationale for the proposed changes and identifies issues on which the EPA is particularly interested in receiving public comments. This section also includes proposed confidentiality determinations for four new data elements for the fluorinated gas production source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule.
The 2009 final GHG Reporting Rule was signed by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on September 22, 2009 and published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2009 (74 FR 56260, hereafter referred to as the “2009 final rule” or “Part 98”). The 2009 final rule, which became effective on December 29, 2009, requires reporting of GHGs from various facilities and suppliers, consistent with the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act.[1] Subsequent notices were published in 2010 finalizing the requirements for subpart TT (75 FR 39736, July 12, 2010), subpart W (75 FR 74458, November 30, 2010), and subpart L (75 FR 74774, December 1, 2010).
Following the promulgation of these subparts, the EPA finalized four technical corrections and clarifying amendments to these and other subparts under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) (75 FR 66434, October 28, 2010; 75 FR 79092, December 17, 2010; 76 FR 73866, November 29, 2011; 76 FR 80554, December 23, 2011). The corrections and amendments within those four actions did not change the basic requirements of the rule, but were intended to improve clarity and ensure consistency across the calculation, monitoring, and data reporting requirements. Similarly, the corrections, clarifying and other amendments in this action are intended to provide greater clarity and flexibility to facilities subject to reporting in 2012.
On January 10, 2012 (77 FR 1434), EPA proposed confidentiality determinations for data elements (excluding those in the inputs to equation category) in 8 subparts of part 98, including subpart L. This proposed amendment includes adding 4 new data elements to subpart L. In conjunction with this addition, we are proposing confidentiality determinations for the new data elements in the proposed amendment to subpart L.
The EPA is proposing these rule amendments under its existing CAA authority, specifically authorities provided in CAA section 114. As stated in the preamble to the 2009 final rule (74 FR 56260, October 30, 2009) and the Response to Comments on the Proposed Rule, Volume 9, Legal Issues, CAA section 114 provides the EPA broad authority to require the information proposed to be gathered by this rule because such data would inform and are relevant to the EPA's carrying out a wide variety of CAA provisions. As discussed in the preamble to the initial proposed rule (74 FR 16448, April 10, 2009), CAA section 114(a)(1) authorizes the Administrator to require emissions sources, persons subject to the CAA, manufacturers of control or process equipment, or persons who the Administrator believes may have necessary information to monitor and report emissions and provide such other information the Administrator requests for the purposes of carrying out any provision of the CAA. For further information about the EPA's legal authority, see the preambles to the 2009 proposed and final rules and EPA's Response to Comments, Volume 9.
In addition, EPA is proposing confidentiality determinations for four proposed data elements in subpart L, under its authorities provided in sections 114, 301 and 307 of the CAA. As mentioned above, CAA section 114 provides EPA authority to obtain the information in part 98, including those in subpart L. Section 114(c) requires that EPA make publicly available information obtained under section 114 except for information (excluding emission data) that qualify for confidential treatment.
The Administrator has determined that this action (proposed amendment and confidentiality determination) is subject to the provisions of section 307(d) of the CAA.
The EPA is proposing technical clarifications and amendments to 40 CFR part 98, subparts A, L, W, and TT. The EPA is planning to address any comments on these proposed amendments and publish final amendments before September 28, 2012. Therefore, reporters would be expected to calculate emissions and other relevant data for the reports that are submitted by September 28, 2012 using 40 CFR part 98 as amended by this proposed action. We have determined that it is feasible for the sources to implement these changes for the 2011 reporting year because the revisions are primarily technical corrections that provide clarifications regarding the existing regulatory requirements, or reduce the amount of information that is required to be reported. The proposed amendments do not change the type of information that must be collected, and do not materially affect how emissions are calculated.
In the case of 40 CFR part 98, subpart A (subpart A), the proposed amendment is merely a harmonizing change to a technical correction finalized in February 2012 (see 77 FR 10373). That final amendment required reporters to calculate emissions of certain additional fluorinated heat transfer fluids under subpart I; however, the EPA inadvertently did not amend the corresponding requirement to include those calculated emissions in the annual GHG report. In this action, we are proposing to include these emissions from heat transfer fluids in the facility level totals reported to the EPA in the annual GHG report.
In the case of 40 CFR part 98, subpart L (subpart L), the EPA is proposing that facilities subject to subpart L report greenhouse gas emissions in a less detailed manner for Reporting Years 2011 and 2012. This proposed amendment is a temporary change (i.e., for years 2011 and 2012 only) to allow the EPA time to fully evaluate concerns recently raised by stakeholders that reporting, and subsequent EPA release, of certain emission data would reveal trade secrets.
In the case of 40 CFR part 98, subpart W (subpart W), the EPA concludes that these proposed amendments are all technical corrections that, while important to make to allow reporters to calculate emissions accurately, do not materially affect the actions facilities would have already undertaken to comply with the rule. For example, in this action, EPA is proposing a correction to the emission factors in Table W-1A of subpart W for the onshore petroleum and natural gas production segment. In the December 23, 2011 final rule (76 FR 80554, December 23, 2011, referred to hereinafter as the “December 2011 final rule”), the EPA revised several of the emission factors in this table, along with the emission factors in other tables in subpart W to reflect a consistent standard temperature and pressure. In the process of converting specific emission factors within Table W-1A of subpart W an omission occurred that we are proposing to correct in this action. As stated previously, a proposed change such as this would not materially affect the actions a facility would undertake to comply with the rule.
In the case of 40 CFR part 98, subpart TT (subpart TT), this proposal excludes some facilities from the reporting requirements and thereby further reduces the reporting under the GHG Reporting Rule. These excluded facilities are not expected to emit GHGs since they only receive inert wastes that do not generate methane.
For additional background information regarding some of these amendments, please refer to the Technical Support Document for the 2012 Technical Corrections, Clarifying and Other Amendments to Certain Provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule proposal available in the docket for this rulemaking (EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147).
The EPA generally seeks comment on the EPA's conclusion that it would be appropriate to implement these proposed amendments and incorporate the requirements for the data that must be reported to the EPA by September 2012. Further, we seek comment on whether there are specific proposed changes for which this timeline may not be feasible or appropriate. We request that commenters provide specific examples of how the proposed implementation schedule would or would not be feasible.
The proposed amendments do not affect the confidentiality determinations for subpart A data elements finalized in the Final CBI rule,[2] (hereinafter referred to as the “final CBI rule”), the proposed determinations for subpart W [3] and subparts L and TT,[4] or the proposed or final deferral rule(s) extending the reporting deadlines for the data elements in these subparts that are as assigned to the inputs to emission equations data category.[5]
In this notice, we are proposing confidentiality determinations for proposed new subpart L data elements. The proposed confidentiality determinations for these new data elements together with our rationale are discussed in detail in Section II.D.3 of this preamble.
There are no proposed determinations for subparts A, W, and TT, since the proposed amendments to those subparts do not include any proposed new data elements. The proposed amendments would delete an existing subpart W data element and make only minor clarifications to the existing reporting requirements in subpart W. For the Subpart A proposed amendments, we are not proposing any confidentiality determinations because the data element being added is a subset of another data element in subpart I for which we've already proposed a CBI determination. This is explained in further detail in Section II.A.3 of this preamble. There are no proposed amendments to the reporting requirements for subpart TT.
The EPA has identified minor corrections, clarifying and other amendments that we are now proposing in this action. We have also identified certain rule provisions that we are proposing to amend to provide greater clarity. The amendments we are now proposing include the following types of changes:
Amendment to Table A-7 to subpart A to add a Subpart L data element used as an input to an emission equation that was inadvertently omitted in the final deferral rule.
We are seeking public comment only on the issues specifically identified in this proposed rule for the identified subparts. We will not consider, through this notice and comment process, comments that are outside the scope of this proposed rule.
In today's rule, we are proposing a few minor amendments to the general reporting requirements of 40 CFR 98.3(c)(4) of subpart A. These changes relate to reporters that would be reporting under the electronics manufacturing source category (40 CFR part 98, subpart I; hereinafter referred to as “subpart I”). We are also proposing an amendment to Table A-7 to subpart A to add a Subpart L data element used as an input to an emission equation that was inadvertently omitted in the final deferral rule.
For subpart I, the proposed change clarifies the GHGs that should be reported in the annual GHG report (40 CFR 98.3(C)(4)). This proposed change follows the amendments to reporting requirements for heat transfer fluids (fluorinated HTFs) that were published on February 22, 2012 (77 FR 10373). In that rule, the EPA amended the definition of fluorinated HTFs to specify that the lower vapor pressure limit clause in the subpart A definition of fluorinated GHG did not apply to fluorinated HTFs in subpart I beginning in reporting year 2012 (40 CFR 98.98).
Section 98.3(c)(4) of subpart A specifies the types of data and format for reporting emissions in the annual GHG reports (e.g., annual emissions from each source category by GHG). Without the proposed change to conform the subpart I requirements for fluorinated HTFs with subpart A, reporters are required to calculate emissions of fluorinated HTFs under subpart I but report only a subset of them in their annual report totals under subpart A. The proposed amendment to subpart A specifies that facilities subject to subpart I must include all fluorinated HTFs in the computation of CO2 e that is required by 40 CFR 98.3(c)(4)(i). Facilities must report each fluorinated HTF that is also a fluorinated GHG under 40 CFR 98.3(c)(4)(iii)(E) and each fluorinated HTF that is not a fluorinated GHG in the newly proposed data element, 40 CFR 98.3(c)(4)(iii)(F). Today's proposed change is a harmonizing modification to clarify how facilities subject to subpart I would report the emissions from fluorinated heat transfer fluids, as required by the February 22, 2012 amendments to subpart I. The EPA determined that this change would simplify reporting for facilities and reduce burden by amending subpart A to be consistent with the requirements in subpart I.
The EPA is proposing to make this change effective for reporting year 2012. Given that facilities are already required to calculate emissions of fluorinated HTFs under subpart I, reporters will already have the necessary data to comply with the proposed amendments.
Table A-7 to subpart A of Part 98 lists the inputs to emission equations whose reporting deadlines are currently deferred until March 31, 2015. In the final deferral, the data element, “the mass of each fluorine-containing product produced by the process” (40 CFR 98.126(b)(7)) was inadvertently omitted from Table A-7 of subpart A. This data element is an input to an equation because it is used in Equation L-6. Thus, we are proposing to amend Table A-7 to subpart A to include this input and hence, defer its reporting deadline until March 31, 2015.
The proposed changes to subpart A do not affect the proposed confidentiality determinations for subpart A or I data elements or the proposed deferral of the deadline for reporting inputs to emission equations (February 22, 2012, 77 FR 10434; Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule: Confidentiality Determinations and Best Available Monitoring Methods Provisions, hereinafter referred to as the “February 22, 2012 CBI rule”).
As discussed in Section II.A.2 of this preamble, the EPA is proposing to add a data element in Subpart A (98.3(c)(4)(iii)(F)). This additional data element is a harmonizing change that makes the subpart A requirements consistent with the recently finalized February 22, 2012 subpart I amendments. To that end, the information that would be reported under the proposed new data element in subpart A is a subset of the information to be reported under the data element 98.96(c)(4), which the EPA proposed to be non-confidential by assigning it to the “Emissions” category in a recent action.[6] Since the information proposed under Subpart A in today's action is a subset of the information to be reported under 98.96(c)(4), the confidentiality determination proposed for that subpart I data element applies to the subpart A data element proposed in this action. As a result, we are not proposing a confidentiality determination for the new subpart A data element in this action.
In this action we are proposing one correction to the provisions of subpart TT to exclude certain facilities that only receive inert waste from reporting requirements under the GHG Reporting Rule. This proposed amendment would ensure that landfills that are not expected to emit GHGs are excluded from reporting requirements under this subpart.
We are proposing one technical amendment to subpart TT to address questions received about applicability of the subpart to industrial waste landfills that receive only inert wastes. In subpart TT, the volatile solids concentration is used as a surrogate for determining degradable organic carbon (DOC) content of a waste material [40 CFR 98.464(b)(4)(ii)]. In 40 CFR 98.460(c)(xii), the EPA provides an exclusion for those facilities that receive inert waste materials “with a volatile solids concentration of 0.5 weight percent (on a dry basis) or less.” However, some landfill owners or operators test their waste stream to determine directly waste-specific degradable organic content. These tests, when performed as described in 40 CFR 98.464(b)(4)(i)(A) of the rule, can provide a more accurate DOC value than calculating organic content from volatile solids. Therefore, to ease reporting burden on those facilities that receive inert waste but calculate DOC directly, we propose to add a direct DOC value exclusion as 40 CFR 98.460(c)(2)(xiii). This exclusion would be provided in weight percent on a wet basis because this is consistent with the units for DOC.
This proposed amendment to subpart TT is not expected to affect the proposed confidentiality determinations for subpart TT data elements or the proposed deferral of the deadline for reporting of inputs to emission equations (January 10, 2012, 77 FR 1434; Proposed Confidentiality Determinations for Data Elements Under the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule and Amendments to Table A-6 to Subpart A of Part 98, of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, hereinafter referred to as the January 10, 2012 CBI rule.)
In this action, the EPA is proposing minor corrections and clarifying amendments to certain provisions to assist facilities with implementing existing rule requirements. We are proposing technical corrections to provisions in subpart W for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, as well as several emission factors in associated tables. Since publication of subpart W in November 2010, the EPA amended subpart W on December 23, 2011, (76 FR 80554). That notice included technical corrections and clarifications designed to increase flexibility, provide needed clarification regarding applicability, and to address specific errors in equations and citations. This proposal complements that action and is not intended to duplicate or replace the amendments published on December 23, 2011.
Many of the corrections in the December 23, 2011 action were the result of internal review by the EPA, as in the case of the correction to the calculation methodology for estimating emissions from gas well venting during completions and workovers using hydraulic fracturing. Onshore petroleum and natural gas facilities subject to subpart W are required to report emissions resulting from this emission source using one of three methods in the December 23, 2011 rule. The first method relies on installation of a recording flow meter on the vent line (upstream of a flare or vent if used) to measure the flowback rate for representative wells in each gas producing sub-basin category and well type combination. The second method is based on engineering equations to calculate the well flowback during well completions and workovers from hydraulic fracturing. The last method applies to facilities that are already measuring the flowback volumes during gas well completions or workovers within a given sub-basin and well type combination.
Following the EPA's review of this emission source, and method two in particular, we determined that correction was needed to Equations W-11A and W-11B to convert the resultant flow rate (parameter FR) into standard conditions instead of the resultant actual conditions as written. Without this conversion, the calculated flow volumes in Equations W-11A and W-11B would incorrectly result in actual conditions instead of standard conditions, which is necessary for input into Equations W-12 and W-10A. In this action, the EPA is proposing to include a correction to convert the flow rate determined in Equation W-11A and W-11B to standard conditions through the use of Equation W-33.
EPA is proposing several technical corrections and amendments to subpart W to correct equations and otherwise clarify provisions in the rule to ensure consistency across the calculation, monitoring, and reporting requirements in subpart W and thereby facilitate reporting.
This section describes the EPA's proposed corrections for subpart W.
Calculating Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The EPA is proposing several clarifications, corrections, and amendments throughout 40 CFR 98.233. These proposed changes are intended to clarify terms, correct references, and remove extraneous terms.
Dehydrator Vents. The EPA is proposing to amend Equation W-6 in 40 CFR 98.233(e)(5) by removing a factor of 1000 from the denominator so that the calculated emissions will result in standard cubic feet rather than thousand standard cubic feet.
Well Venting for Liquids Unloading. The EPA is proposing to provide reporters with the option to take and use more than the prescribed number of sample measurements per unique well tubing diameter and pressure group combination per sub-basin. The EPA notes that this would not change the burden to reporters, and still only would require that one sample per unique well tubing diameter and pressure group combination be taken, but would allow reporters to account for any additional samples that they may have already taken.
The EPA is proposing to amend Equation W-7 in 40 CFR 98.233(f)(1) by changing the parameter “FRp” to “FR” in both Equation W-7 and in the definition to avoid confusion. As previously written, the equation could be interpreted to imply that the flow rate should be measured for all wells, as “p” refers to all wells in a pressure group and tubing group combination; rather, the intention of the equation is to calculate the flow rate for at least one well in each tubing and pressure group combination within a sub-basin. Removing the subscript “p” from the parameter and revising the parameter definition accordingly clarifies that the measurement is not for all wells. Also in Equation W-7, the EPA is proposing to amend the parameter Tp and its definition to clarify that it refers to the cumulative amount of time in hours for venting of each well as opposed to the time for the well(s) that were measured.
The EPA is proposing to update Equation W-8 in 40 CFR 98.233(f)(2) by revising the definition of parameter SPp to clarify that the reporter must take a ratio of casing to tubing pressure. The EPA is further updating Equation W-8 and also Equation W-9 in 40 CFR 98.233(f)(3) by replacing the subscript “q” with “p” in parameter SFR to match the definition of parameter SFRp. Finally, for Equations W-8 and W-9, the EPA is clarifying that the terms Vp and HRp,q are to be monitored per unloading event.
Gas Well Venting During Completions and Workovers from Hydraulic Fracturing. The EPA reviewed Equation W-11A, which calculates a flow rate for subsonic flow, and Equation W-11B, which calculates a flow rate for sonic flow. These equations are intended to calculate flow of gas following hydraulic fracturing of gas wells through a choke at the wellhead. The EPA determined that the equations as presented in the final rule are correct. However, it may not be clear in the December 2011 final rule that the output from Equations W-11A and W-11B are at actual conditions, i.e., subsonic and sonic flow conditions and that a conversion of the results from Equation W-11A and W-11B to standard conditions is required prior to use in Equation W-12. Omitting the step of converting actual to standard conditions results in a lower flowrate output from Equation W-11A or Equation W-11B, which corresponds to a lower emissions calculation in Equation W-10A. In this proposed rule, EPA proposes to add a reference to 40 CFR 98.233(t) in the parameter definition FRs,p to convert FRa to standard conditions. Furthermore, to eliminate this potential ambiguity and make the equations more explicit, the EPA is proposing to insert the word “actual” in the definition of flow rate, FR, and also add a subscript “a.” Finally, EPA proposes to clarify the definition of orifice cross sectional area, “A” to state “Cross sectional open area of the restriction orifice (m2).”
The EPA is proposing to clarify that the flow volume variable FVs,p in Equation W-10B is at standard cubic feet, which is a volume unit as opposed to the standard cubic feet per hour flow rate unit in the December 2011 final rule. Although the engineering equations in subpart W more commonly use flow rates as units of measurement, the use of flow volumes in equation W-10B is similar to the use of flow volume in 40 CFR 98.233(n), which includes provisions for reporters to calculate their flow volumes in standard cubic feet as opposed to a cubic feet per hour flow rate value.
Finally, the EPA is proposing to provide reporters with the option to take and use more than the prescribed number of sample measurements per sub-basin and well type (horizontal or vertical). As described above for a similar proposed amendment for well venting for liquids unloading, the EPA notes that this would not change the burden to reporters, but would allow reporters to account for any additional samples that they may have already taken.
Gas Well Venting During Completions and Workovers Without Hydraulic Fracturing. The EPA is proposing amendments to clarify that the output of Equation W-13 is a sum of emissions from all completions and workovers without hydraulic fracturing within a sub-basin.
Blowdown Vent Stacks. The EPA is proposing to revise the nomenclature of two terms in Equations W-14A and W-14B. First, the EPA is revising the parameter “Es,n” in the parameter description to match the term in the Equation W-14B. Second, the EPA is revising the term “Ta” to “Ta,p” in Equation W-14B to clarify the intent of the equation, which allows the reporter to input the temperature in actual conditions for each blowdown event “p.”
Onshore Production Storage Tanks. The EPA is proposing to revise 40 CFR 98.233(j)(5) to clarify that the term “throughput” refers to “average daily throughput of oil” consistent with similar changes made elsewhere in 40 CFR 98.233(j) during the December 23, 2011 technical corrections final rule. The EPA is also proposing to revise the definition of “Count” in Equation W-15 of 40 CFR 98.233(j)(5) to clarify that the reporters are to only count the separators or wells that feed oil directly to the storage tank. The count should not include separators that feed oil to other separators. The EPA is also proposing to revise the parameter definition of “1000” to accurately describe the conversion occurring through this parameter.
Well Testing Venting and Flaring. The EPA is proposing to revise the definition of “PR” in Equation W-17B of 40 CFR 98.233(l)(3) to clarify that the production rate is in actual and not standard conditions.
Flare Stack Emissions. The EPA is proposing to remove and reserve 40 CFR 98.233(n)(7) to harmonize the language with the reporting requirements in 40 CFR 98.236, which requires emissions to be reported separately for combusted CO2, uncombusted CO2, and uncombusted CH4. This deletion would remove an undesired calculation.
Centrifugal and Reciprocating Compressors. The EPA is proposing to make technical corrections to Equations W-23, W-24, W-27, and W-28 to provide the proper notation for the summations in those equations so that owners and operators may correctly calculate GHG emissions from centrifugal and reciprocating compressors. Although EPA recognizes that additional clarifications to the definitions in the parameters to these equations could be helpful to owners and operators, the EPA has not proposed any substantive changes in this action. This is because, following the publication of subpart W in the Federal Register in 2010, several industry groups requested reconsideration of several provisions in the final rule, including the reciprocating and centrifugal compressor monitoring requirements. At present, we are merely making technical corrections to the existing equations in the rule, and are not granting reconsideration of the compressor requirements or any other issues raised in those petitions for reconsideration in this action. We will consider the compressor monitoring requirements at a later time.
Finally, the EPA is proposing to revise the definition of parameter EFi in Equation W-25 in 40 CFR 98.233(o)(7) by deleting the term “thousand” to eliminate an unnecessary unit conversion.
Population Count and Emission Factors. We are also proposing to amend an incorrect reference in 40 CFR 98.233(r)(2) to “Table W-1A” to Subpart A of Part 98 instead of “Table 1-A.”
Finally, in 40 CFR 98.233(r)(6)(ii), we are proposing to revise the term “meter or regulator” and replace it with “meter/regulator,” for consistency with the term prescribed in the definition in 40 CFR 98.238.
Volumetric emissions. The EPA is proposing to revise 40 CFR 98.233(t) to clarify that reporters do not need to alter their calculation results to standard conditions if the results already reflect standard conditions.
GHG mass emissions. The EPA is proposing to revise the definition of parameter “ρi” in Equation W-36 to amend the density value of CH4 to be 0.0192 kg/ft3 in Equation W-36. The current density value of 0.04220 is the density of CH4 in lb/ft3. In the required units of kg/ft3, the density value for CH4 should be 0.0192 kg/ft3.
Onshore Production and Distribution Combustion Emissions. The EPA is proposing to replace the parameter “ECO2” with “Ea,CO2” in the parameter definition for Equation W-39A in 40 CFR 98.233(z)(2)(iii) to match the parameters in the equation. Finally, the EPA is proposing to revise the definition of “HHV” in 40 CFR 98.233(z)(2)(vi) to reflect the correct term represented by the acronym.
Data Reporting Requirements. The EPA is proposing amendments to specific provisions within 40 CFR 98.236. These changes are intended to clarify terms, correct references, and remove extraneous terms.
First, the EPA is proposing to amend 40 CFR 98.236(c)(5)(ii)(D) to clarify that the average internal casing diameter of all wells, as opposed to each well, must be reported.
Second, we propose to amend 40 CFR 98.236(c)(9) by removing the text, “using optical gas imaging instrument per 40 CFR 98.234(a) (refer to 40 CFR 98.233(k)), or acoustic leak detections of.” This is because 40 CFR 98.233(k) allows the use of several monitoring methods for determining tank vapor vent stack emissions. The text in 40 CFR 98.236(c)(9) limits the reporters to optical gas imaging and acoustic leak detection, which is misleading.
The EPA is also proposing to amend 40 CFR 98.236(c)(13)(iii)(C) to correct for an error in the units associated with emissions from isolation valve leakage for centrifugal compressors measured using provisions in 40 CFR 98.233. Specifically, EPA is proposing to replace the units of “cubic feet per hour” with “metric tons of CO2 e for each gas” to align the units of this data reporting element to those of the general provisions of Part 98, 40 CFR 98.3(c)(4)(i), which require reporting of annual emissions in units of mass in metric tons of CO2 e. EPA seeks comment on this proposed amendment to correct the units for this data reporting element.
Next, the EPA is proposing to amend 40 CFR 98.236(c)(15)(i)(B) by updating the incorrect reference to “Equation W-30” to read “Equation W-30A.” Similarly, the EPA is proposing to amend 40 CFR 98.236(c)(15)(i)(C) by updating the incorrect reference to Equation W-30 to read Equation W-30A. In 40 CFR 98.236(c)(15)(i)(C), the EPA proposes to delete the unnecessary reference to “parameter GHGi.”
In 40 CFR 98.236(c)(15)(ii)(A), the EPA is proposing to remove the text references to “(a)(4)” and “W-3” because the reporting requirements for pneumatic devices are already covered under 40 CFR 98.236c)(1) and making this reference unnecessary. Similarly, the EPA is proposing to delete the reference to “(a)(8)” because the reporting requirements for population counts in the natural gas distribution industry segment are already covered under 40 CFR 98.236(c)(16).
Finally, the EPA is proposing to delete “and CH4” from the reporting requirements for EOR injection pumps in 40 CFR 98.236(c)(17)(v). The EPA clarified through the December 23, 2011 final rule that only CO2 emissions must be calculated from EOR injection pump blowdowns (76 FR 80565). Although the calculation requirements were clarified in that rule, the harmonizing change was not made to remove CH4 from the data reporting requirements. This proposed change would make the data reporting requirements consistent with the calculation procedures in Equation W-37.
Emission Factor Tables. First, we are proposing to revise the incorrect title of Table W-1A of subpart W by deleting “Table A-1A” and correcting it to “Table W-1A.”
In the December 2011 technical corrections final rule (76 FR 80592), the emission factors were converted from a standard temperature of 68 °F to a standard temperature of 60 °F. The EPA inadvertently used an incorrect intermediary version of Table W-1A to convert the emission factor. In this proposed rule, the EPA is proposing to rectify the emission factors in Table W-1A using the correct version of Table W-1A from the November 2010 rule. We note that the EPA did receive technical comments on the actual default emission factor values in Table W-1A in the December 2011 technical corrections final rule (see the Response to Comments document for the final rule, comment number EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147-0016, Excerpt 30). This proposed action merely proposes to correct the error that resulted in December 2011 from use of an incorrect intermediary table when the emission factors were converted from a standard temperature of 68 °F to a standard temperature of 60 °F. As stated in the Response to Comments document referenced above, the EPA may consider substantive changes to the default factors for future rulemakings.
The EPA made changes to the emission factors for the Eastern United States in December 2011 as result of comments on the calculation performed to derive these numbers. Similar changes were required for the pneumatic devices in the Western United States but were inadvertently not made in the December 2011 final rule. Therefore, the EPA is proposing to make a similar change to the pneumatic device emission factors for the Western United States.
Finally, we are proposing to amend Table W-5 to provide the cross-reference for footnote 2, by adding a reference associated with footnote 2 to Vapor Recovery Compressor.
In this action, the EPA is proposing a small number of revisions to the data reporting requirements affecting subpart W reporters. Specifically, in this action, the EPA is proposing to make the following amendments:
40 CFR (c)(5)(ii)(D) to clarify that the average internal casing diameter must be reported for all wells, as opposed to each well.
40 CFR 98.236(c)(9) to align the reporting requirements with the corresponding calculation methodologies in 40 CFR 98.233(k) by removing erroneous text.
40 CFR 98.236(c)(13)(iii)(C) to correct the units of the reporting requirements.
40 CFR 98.236(c)(15)(i)(B) and (C) to remove incorrect references and citations.
40 CFR 98.236(c)(15)(ii)(A) to remove unnecessary text which if not removed results in redundancy for reporters.
40 CFR 98.236(c)(17)(v) to remove reporting of CH4 to make the reporting requirements consistent with the calculation procedures.
For these data elements, the EPA proposed confidentiality determinations (for non-inputs), and deferral of reporting (for inputs) in a proposed action, Proposed Confidentiality Determinations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Source Category, and Amendments to Table A-7 of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, published on February 24, 2012 (77 FR 11039). These five amendments are minor clarifications that do not change the general meaning of the data elements and therefore would not affect the determinations or deferrals proposed in that action.
In today's rule, we are proposing that greenhouse gas emissions be reported in a less detailed manner for the initial two years of reporting under subpart L. The proposed changes pertain only to subpart L, and would be a temporary change (i.e., for reporting years 2011 and 2012) to allow the EPA sufficient time to fully evaluate concerns recently raised by stakeholders that reporting and public availability of process-specific emissions of individual fluorinated GHGs may reveal trade secrets. Under subpart L, fluorinated gas producers are currently required to report greenhouse gas emissions by chemical for each process.[7]
On January 10, 2012, the EPA published proposed determinations regarding whether the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program data elements in eight subparts of Part 98, including subpart L, would or would not be entitled to confidential treatment under the CAA (77 FR 1434). In that proposed rule, the EPA proposed that the chemical identities and quantities of the fluorinated GHG emissions at the process-level, reported under subpart L, are “emission data.” Under section 114 of the CAA, “emission data” are not eligible for confidential treatment.
Two commenters on that proposed rule, the American Chemistry Council and 3M Company, raised concerns that the release of certain data elements that the EPA proposed to classify as emission data, and that therefore would not be eligible for treatment as confidential business information, would reveal trade secrets. 3M noted that, due to the uniqueness of its production processes, it may be the only U.S. producer of fluorinated gases that has these trade secret concerns. No other producer of fluorinated gases individually raised these concerns in either the subpart L or CBI rulemakings. Both commenters stated that the disclosure of the identity and quantities of the fluorinated GHGs emitted at the process level, from either process vents or fugitive sources, would reveal sensitive information regarding individual chemical production processes. 3M stated that process-level emission data contain specific information on reactants, byproducts, and products that would provide competitors with a detailed understanding of 3M's manufacturing process. They noted that competitors with knowledge of fluorine chemistry could use such information to identify the particular manufacturing pathways used by 3M. Competitors could then duplicate these processes without having to incur research and development costs, placing 3M at a competitive disadvantage.
The American Chemistry Council and 3M Company also expressed concern that the disclosure of the identity and quantity of emissions at the process level could violate export control regulations. Specifically, the commenters stated that the release of some data elements would make public information that is subject to Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that prohibit public disclosure for reasons of “national security, anti-terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation, and chemical and biological weapons security.” The commenters stated that the federal regulations not only control export of products, but also export of technical knowledge, such as the design of a product and production information, and that the release of process-level emission data may provide such insight into the design of a product or production information that is export controlled. The commenters stated that if the EPA attempted to protect export-controlled information from disclosure by implementing “an export control plan,” this would be in conflict with its position that emission data cannot be withheld from the public under the CAA.
EPA needs additional time to fully evaluate whether these concerns are justified and how the rule might be changed to balance these concerns with the need to obtain the data necessary to inform the development of future GHG policies and programs. Specifically, EPA needs additional time to consider these comments, better understand whether the concerns raised are unique to one facility/manufacturer, and evaluate whether a two-track approach with different levels of reporting for different facilities would be feasible. Memorandum: Potential Future Subpart L Options in the docket to this rulemaking (EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147) describes some possible alternative reporting frameworks. EPA is currently in the process of evaluating whether the potential options described in the memorandum would generate an adequate data set upon which to inform the development of future GHG policies and programs. We seek comment on whether the options presented would address the concerns raised by commenters. Although EPA is seeking comment on the alternatives presented in this memorandum, any changes to Part 98 would be made through a separate proposed action, including accompanying proposed regulatory text changes. That proposal, should there be one, would also include proposed confidentiality determinations for any long-term proposed changes to the reporting requirements in subpart L.
The EPA needs additional time to fully evaluate whether these concerns are warranted. As a result, we are proposing amendments that would apply for only reporting years 2011 and 2012 to allow the EPA sufficient time to evaluate these concerns, and if needed, to make permanent changes to the rule. We are proposing a new reporting element for reporting years 2011 and 2012, where owners and operators of facilities producing fluorinated gases would be required to report annual total facility-wide fluorinated GHG emissions, expressed in tons of CO2 e.[8] The facilities would not be required to report process level emissions or individual fluorinated GHGs for reporting years 2011 and 2012. These amendments would apply to subpart L only. These proposed amendments do not change any other requirements of Part 98, including the requirement that these data elements be retained as records in a form that is suitable for expeditious inspection and review (required for all Part 98 records by 40 CFR 98.3(g)).
This proposed action would not have any impact on the EPA's final rule issued on August 25, 2011 (76 FR 53057), which deferred the deadline for reporting subpart L data elements that are inputs to emission equations until March 31, 2015. The data elements listed in that action for which the reporting deadline was deferred until March 31, 2015 are still deferred until that date. For the data elements listed below, we are proposing in this action, that owners and operators of facilities producing fluorinated gases would not be required to submit the information until March 31, 2014 (unless the deferral of inputs action mentioned previously has already set forth a deferred reporting deadline of March 31, 2015).
40 CFR 98.126 (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(6),(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h).
The data element at 40 CFR 98.3(c)(4)(iii) is the subpart A reporting requirement that requires reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by chemical for each subpart. Again, reporting of this data element would be deferred for reporting year 2011 and reporting year 2012 for subpart L only.
With these proposed changes, fluorinated gas producers would report, under subpart L, only the data elements in 40 CFR 98.126(a)(5) (the methods used) and in proposed paragraph 40 CFR 98.126(j) (for facility-level CO2 e emissions) for reporting year 2011 and reporting year 2012. Consistent with 40 CFR 98.126(e), a facility would need to include the excess emissions, converted to CO2 e, that result from malfunctions of the destruction device when reporting total facility CO2 e under 40 CFR 98.126(j). However, as noted in 40 CFR 98.126(j), these excess emissions would not need to be reported separately but would be included in the facility-wide CO2 e reported. While reporters are still reporting 98.126(a)(5), we are proposing to amend this reporting element to require facilities to report the methods used to determine emissions at a facility-level rather than linking each method to a particular process.
We note that the data elements in 40 CFR 98.122(a) and (b) refer to reporting of GHGs under subpart C of part 98, General Stationary Fuel Combustion Sources, and the reporting of fluorinated GHGs under subpart O of part 98, HCFC-22 Production and HFC-23 Destruction, respectively, and we are not proposing to change them through this action.
To convert fluorinated GHG emissions into CO2 e, the EPA is proposing that facilities use Equation A-1 of subpart A. For fluorinated GHGs that do not have a GWP listed in Table A-1, facilities would be required either to use a default GWP or to use their best estimate of the GWP, based on the information described in 40 CFR 98.123(c)(1)(vi)(A)(3).[9] The default GWP used would depend on the type of fluorinated GHG. For fully fluorinated GHGs, the default GWP would be 10,000, which is based on the average GWP of the fully fluorinated GHGs on Table A-1. For the purposes of subpart L, EPA is proposing to define “fully fluorinated GHGs” as “fluorinated GHGs that contain only single bonds and in which all available valence locations are filled by fluorine atoms. This includes but is not limited to saturated perfluorocarbons, SF6, NF3, SF5CF3, fully fluorinated linear, branched and cyclic alkanes, fully fluorinated ethers, fully fluorinated tertiary amines, fully fluorinated aminoethers, and perfluoropolyethers.” For other fluorinated GHGs, the default GWP would be 2,000, which is based on the average GWP of the other fluorinated GHGs on Table A-1. EPA is proposing to distinguish between fully fluorinated GHGs and other fluorinated GHGs because the former have significantly longer lifetimes and higher GWPs than the latter. EPA requests comment on the proposed definition of fully fluorinated GHGs and on the default GWPs.
We are proposing to add three new data elements that, if a facility used one or more default or best-estimate GWPs, it would be required to report the shares of its CO2 e emissions that were respectively based on the default and/or best estimate GWPs. This would enable the EPA to understand the potential impact of the default or best estimate GWPs on the overall estimated emissions of the facility. We are proposing that, facilities using best estimate GWPs be required to keep the GWPs, along with the data and analysis that were used to develop the GWPs, as records.
The EPA requests comment on the approach for assigning GWPs to fluorinated GHGs without GWPs on Table A-1. If commenters believe that another method should be used for calculating GWP values for chemicals not listed in Table A-1, they should provide details and rationale for the specific method that they recommend.
The EPA is proposing that the amendments described above apply for reporting year 2011 and reporting year 2012. Because the deadline for reporting year 2012 reporting is March 31, 2013, just six months after the reporting year 2011 reporting deadline, the EPA has determined that making these proposed amendments effective for two reporting years would allow sufficient time to fully evaluate the concerns raised as well as, if needed, make a permanent change to the rule. The EPA requests comment on whether these amendments should apply for only reporting year 2011 rather than for reporting year 2011 and reporting year 2012.
Because only one company raised concerns that reporting process-specific emissions by chemical would reveal trade secrets, the EPA is also requesting comment on giving fluorinated gas producers the option to report all of the subpart L data elements that are currently subject to a September 2012 reporting deadline. Fluorinated gas producers that have established tracking and reporting systems based on the current rule would then be able to report based on their current systems. At the same time, this approach would preserve chemical-by-chemical reporting at the process level where companies decide to report in this manner.
As discussed in Section II.D.2 of this preamble, the EPA is proposing amendments that would apply to subpart L for reporting years 2011 and 2012. Owners and operators would be required to report the facility's fluorinated GHG emissions only as an annual total expressed as CO2 e emissions as well as the shares of those emissions that were based on the default and/or best estimate GWPs.
The proposed amendment includes addition of these four reporting elements, which are listed below in Table 2 of this preamble.[10]
Table 2—Proposed Reporting Data Elements and Confidentiality Determinations
Proposed data category (finalized CBI determination 11)
1. 98.126(j)(3) You must report the total fluorinated GHG emissions of the facility, expressed in tons of CO2 e Emissions (Emission Data: Made available to the public).
2. 98.126(j)(3)(ii) Provide the total annual emissions across fluorinated GHGs for the entire facility, in metric tons of CO2 e, that were calculated using the default GWP of 2000 Emissions (Emission Data: Made available to the public).
3. 98.126(j)(3)(iii) Provide the total annual emissions across fluorinated GHGs for the entire facility, in metric tons of CO2 e, that were calculated using the default GWP of 10,000 Emissions (Emission Data: Made available to the public).
4. 98.126(j)(3)(iv) Provide the total annual emissions across fluorinated GHGs for the entire facility, in metric tons of CO2 e, that were calculated using your best estimate of the GWP Emissions (Emission Data: Made available to the public).
In conjunction with the proposed addition of the four data elements identified above, we are proposing confidentiality determinations for these data elements. Because these four data elements describe emissions exhausted to the atmosphere, we are proposing to assign these proposed data elements to the “Emissions” category. These proposed data elements are exactly the same type of data (i.e., information regarding the quantity of GHG emissions to the atmosphere) as all of the other data elements previously categorized in the “Emissions” data category in the Final CBI rule. As mentioned above, in the Final CBI rule, the EPA determined that the data elements in this data category are “emission data” under CAA section 114(c) and 40 CFR 2.301(a)(2)(i). Since the proposed data elements are the same as the data elements previously finalized in the “Emissions” data category, we propose that the determination applied to that category also applies to these four proposed data elements, and that these data elements would not be eligible for CBI treatment.
As mentioned above, we are also proposing to amend the reporting requirement in 98.126(a)(5); however, the proposed amendment is a minor change in which facilities are reporting the methods used to determine emissions at a facility-level rather than linking each method to a particular process. Because the same information would be reported (without being linked to a particular process), this change does not affect the proposed confidentiality determination that was made for this data element in a recent proposal.12 As a result, we are not proposing a confidentiality determination for this data element.
This action does not impose any new information collection burden. These proposed amendments do not make any substantive changes to the reporting requirements in any of the subparts for which amendments are being proposed. In many cases, the proposed amendments could potentially reduce the reporting burden by making the monitoring and reporting requirements more clear and to more closely conform to industry practices. However, the OMB has previously approved the information collection requirements for subparts A on October 30, 2009, subpart L on December 1, 2010, subpart W promulgated on November 30, 2010, subpart TT promulgated on July 12, 2010 under 40 CFR part 98 under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and has assigned OMB control numbers 2060-0629; 2060-0650; and 2060-0647; and 2060-0649 respectively. The OMB control numbers for the EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
Further information on the EPA's assessment on the impact on burden can be found in the 2012 Technical Corrections and Amendments Cost Memo in docket number EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0147.
After considering the economic impacts of these proposed rule amendments on small entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The proposed rule amendments will not impose any new requirement on small entities that are not currently required by the regulation of subpart A promulgated on October 30, 2009; subpart TT promulgated on July 12, 2010; subpart W promulgated on November 30, 2010, or subpart L promulgated on December 1, 2010.
Based on the proposed amendments in his action, the EPA has provided clarity to address ambiguity in the rule provisions, and has proposed corrections where necessary to assist reporters in implementation of these subparts.
The proposed rule amendments do not contain a Federal mandate that may result in expenditures of $100 million or more for State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or the private sector in any one year. Thus, the proposed rule amendments are not subject to the requirements of section 202 and 205 of the UMRA. This rule is also not subject to the requirements of section 203 of UMRA because it contains no regulatory requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect small governments. The proposed amendments will not impose any new requirements that are not currently required for 40 CFR part 98, and the rule amendments would not unfairly apply to small governments. Therefore, this action is not subject to the requirements of section 203 of the UMRA.
These amendments apply directly to facilities that supply certain products that would result in GHGs when released, combusted or oxidized and facilities that directly emit greenhouses gases. They do not apply to governmental entities unless the government entity owns a facility that directly emits GHGs above threshold levels (such as a landfill), so relatively few government facilities would be affected. This regulation also does not limit the power of States or localities to collect GHG data and/or regulate GHG emissions. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this action.
In the spirit of Executive Order 13132, and consistent with EPA policy to promote communications between EPA and State and local governments, the EPA specifically solicits comment on this proposed action from State and local officials.
This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). The proposed rule amendments would not result in any changes to the current requirements of 40 CFR part 98. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action.
Although Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action, the EPA sought opportunities to provide information to Tribal governments and representatives during the development of the rules for subparts A on October 30, 2009; subpart TT promulgated on July 12, 2010; subpart W promulgated on November 30, 2010, and subpart L promulgated on December 1, 2010. A summary of the EPA's consultations with Tribal officials is provided Sections VIII.E and VIII.F of the preamble to the 2009 final rule and in Section IV.F of the final rule for subpart W.
2. Section 98.3 is amended by:
a. Revising paragraph (c)(4)(i).
b. Revising paragraph (c)(4)(iii)(E).
c. Adding paragraph (c)(4)(iii)(F).
d. Revising paragraph (c)(4)(vi).
What are the monitoring, reporting, recordkeeping and verification requirements of this part?
(F) For electronics manufacturing (as defined in § 98.90), each fluorinated heat transfer fluid (as defined in § 98.98) that is not also a fluorinated GHG as specified under (c)(4)(iii)(E). This requirement applies beginning in reporting year 2012.
3. Table A-7 to subpart A of part 98 is amended by revising the entries for subpart L to read as follows:
4. Section 98.126 is amended by:
b. Revising paragraph (a)(5).
(3) Calculation and Reporting of CO2e. You must report the total fluorinated GHG emissions covered by this subpart, expressed in metric tons of CO2 e. This includes emissions from all fluorinated gas production processes, all fluorinated gas transformation processes that are not part of a fluorinated gas production process, all fluorinated gas destruction processes that are not part of a fluorinated gas production process or a fluorinated gas transformation process, and venting of residual fluorinated GHGs from containers returned from the field. To convert fluorinated GHG emissions to CO2 e for reporting under this section, use Equation A-1 of § 98.2. For fluorinated GHGs whose GWPs are not listed in Table A-1 of Subpart A of this subpart, use either the default GWP specified below or your best estimate of the GWP based on the information described in § 98.123(c)(1)(vi)(A)(3).
5. Section 98.127 is amended by adding paragraph (k) to read as follows:
(k) For fluorinated GHGs whose GWPs are not listed in Table A-1 to this subpart, maintain records of the GWPs used to calculate facility-wide CO2 e emissions. Where you used your best estimate of the GWP, maintain records of the data and analysis used to develop that GWP, including the data elements at § 98.123(c)(1)(vi)(A)(1)-(3).
6. Section 98.128 is amended by adding the definition of “Fully fluorinated GHGs” in alphabetical order to read as follows:
7. Section 98.233 is amended by:
a. In paragraph (e)(5), revising Equation W-6.
b. Revising paragraph (f)(1) introductory text, Equation W-7 and, the definitions of parameters “Tp” and “FRp” in Equation W-7.
c. Revising paragraph (f)(1)(i) introductory text and paragraph (f)(1)(i)(A).
d. In paragraph (f)(2), revising Equation W-8 and the definitions of parameters “SPp”, “Vp”, and “HRp,q” in Equation W-8.
e. Revising (f)(3) introductory text, Equation W-9 and the definitions of parameters “W”, “Vp”, and “HRp,q” in Equation W-9.
f. In paragraph (g), revising Equations W-10A and W-10B and the definitions of “FRM”, “PRp”, “EnFp”, “SGp”, and “FVp”.
g. Revising paragraph (g)(1) introductory text.
h. In paragraph (g)(1)(ii), revising Equations W-11A and W-11B, and revising the definition of “FR” and “A” in both Equations W-11A and W-11B.
i. In paragraph (g)(1)(iii), revising Equation W-12 and the definitions of “FRM”, “FRp”, and “PRp”; removing the definition of “W”; and adding the definition of “N.”
j. Revising paragraph (g)(3)(i).
k. In paragraph (h), revising the definition of parameter “Es,n” in Equation W-13.
l. In paragraph (i)(3), revising the definition of “ES,N” in Equation W-14A, revising Equation W-14B and the definition of “Ta” in Equation W-14B.
m. Revising paragraph (j)(5) introductory text and the definitions “Count” and “1,000” in Equation W-15.
n. In paragraph (l)(3), revising the definition of “PR” in Equation W-17B.
o. Removing and reserving paragraph (n)(7).
p. In paragraph (o)(5), revising Equation W-23.
q. In paragraph (o)(6), revising Equation W-24.
r. In paragraph (o)(7), revising the definition of “EFi” in Equation W-25.
s. In paragraph (p)(7), revising Equation W-27.
t. In paragraph (p)(7)(i), revising Equation W-28.
u. Revising paragraph (r)(2) introductory text.
v. Revising paragraph (r)(6)(ii) introductory text.
w. Revising paragraph (t) introductory text, (t)(1) introductory text, and the definition of “Es,n” and “Ea,n” in Equation W-33.
x. In paragraph (v), revising the definition of “ρi” in Equation W-36.
y. In paragraph (z)(2)(iii), revising the definition of “ECO2” in Equations W-39A and W-39B.
T = Time between refilling (days).
SPp = Shut-in pressure or surface pressure for wells with tubing production and no packers or casing pressure for each well, p, in pounds per square inch absolute (psia) or casing-to-tubing pressure ratio of one well from the same sub-basin multiplied by the tubing pressure of each well, p, in the sub-basin, in pounds per square inch absolute (psia).
PRs,p = First 30-day average production flow rate in standard cubic feet per hour of each well p, under actual conditions, converted to standard conditions, as required in paragraph (g)(1) of this section.
EnFs,p = Volume of CO2 or N2 injected gas in cubic feet at standard conditions that was injected into the reservoir during an energized fracture job for each well p. If the fracture process did not inject gas into the reservoir, then EnFp is 0. If injected gas is CO2 then EnFp is 0.
SGs,p = Volume of natural gas in cubic feet at standard conditions that was recovered into a flow-line for well p as per paragraph (g)(3) of this section. This parameter includes any natural gas that is injected into the well for clean-up. If no gas was recovered, SGp is 0.
N = Number of measured or calculated well completions or workovers using hydraulic fracturing in a sub-basin and well type formation.
(ii) Emissions from all above grade metering-regulating stations (including above grade TD transfer stations) shall be calculated by applying the emission factor calculated in Equation W-32 and the total count of meter/regulator runs at all above grade metering-regulating stations (inclusive of TD transfer stations) to Equation W-31. The facility wide emission factor in Equation W-32 will be calculated by using the total volumetric GHG emissions at standard conditions for all equipment leak sources calculated in Equation W-30B in paragraph (q)(8) of this section and the count of meter/regulator runs located at above grade transmission-distribution transfer stations that were monitored over the years that constitute one complete cycle as per (q)(8)(i) of this section. A meter on a regulator run is considered one meter/regulator run. Reporters that do not have above grade T-D transfer stations shall report a count of above grade metering-regulating stations only and do not have to comply with § 98.236(c)(16)(xix).
Es,n = Natural gas volumetric emissions at standard temperature and pressure (STP) conditions in cubic feet, except Es,n equals(FRs,p)for each well p when calculating either subsonic or sonic flowrates under 98.233(g).
Ea,n = Natural gas volumetric emissions at actual conditions in cubic feet, except Ea,n equals (FRa,p) for each well p when calculating either subsonic or sonic flowrates under 98.233(g).
ρi = Density of GHGi. Use 0.0526 kg/ft3 for CO2 and N2 O, and 0.0192 kg/ft3 for CH4 at 60 °F and 14.7 psia.
c. Revising paragraph (c)(13)(iii)(C).
d. Revising paragraphs (c)(15)(i)(B), (c)(15)(i)(C), and (c)(15)(ii)(A).
e. Revising paragraph (c)(17)(v).
(C) Report the isolation valve leakage emissions in not operating, depressurized mode in metric tons of CO2 e for each gas(refer to Equation W-23 and Equation W-24 of § 98.233).
9. Table A-1A of Subpart W of part 98 is revised to read as follows:
Table W-1A of Subpart W—Default Whole Gas Emission Factors for Onshore Petroleum and Natural Gas Production
4 Hydrocarbon liquids greater than or equal to 20 °API are considered “light crude.”
6 Hydrocarbon liquids less than 20 °API are considered “heavy crude.”
10. Table W-5 to Subpart W of part 98 is amended by revising the entry for “Vapor Recovery Compressor” to read as follows:
11. Section 98.460 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(2)(xiii) to read as follows:
(xiii) Other waste material that has a DOC value of 0.3 weight percent (on a wet basis) or less. DOC value must be determined using a 60-day anaerobic biodegradation test procedure identified in 98.464(b)(4)(i)(A).
1. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161, 121 Stat. 1844, 2128.
2. See 75 FR 30782, May 26, 2011.
3. See 77 FR 11039, February 24, 2012.
4. See 77 FR 1434, January 10, 2012.
5. See 77 FR 11039, February 24, 2012 (subpart I), 77 FR 1434, January 10, 2012 (subpart W), and 76 FR 53057, August 25, 2011.
6. See 77 FR 10434, February 22, 2012.
7. Greenhouse gas emissions are currently required to be reported by chemical for each fluorinate gas production process, each fluorinated gas transformation process that is not part of a fluorinated gas production process, each fluorinate gas destruction process that is not part of a fluorinated gas production or transformation process, and venting of residual fluorinated GHGs (heels) from containers returned from the field (40 CFR 98.126(a)(2)).
8. This would include emisions from all fluorinated gas production processes, all fluorinated gas transformation processes that are not part of a fluorinated gas production process, all fluorinated gas destruction processes that are not part of a fluorinated gas production process or a fluorinated gas transformation process, and venting of residual fluorinated GHGs from containers returned from the field.
9. This is part of the provision of subpart L that allows facilities to request to use provisional GWPs to calculate whether they must use stack testing to establish an emission factor for a vent. Note that EPA is not proposing to approve best-estimate GWPs under this action.
10. 76 FR 30782, May 26, 2011.
11. The CBI determinations of these data categories were finalized in the Final CBI Rule (May 26, 2011, 76 FR 30782).
[FR Doc. 2012-12193 Filed 5-18-12; 8:45 am]