340-272-0430 Data Checks (1) Verification services must include data checks that meet the requirements of this rule. (2) All data checks must meet the following requirements: (a) Data checks must be used to determine the reliability of the submitted report or fuel pathway application and to ensure that the appropriate methodologies and emissions factors have been applied as required under OAR chapter 340, division 253 or OAR chapter 340, division 215, as applicable; (b) Data checks must be chosen to ensure the accuracy of data submitted in the report or fuel pathway application; (c) The verification team must use professional judgment in establishing the extent of data checks required in order to conclude with reasonable assurance whether each data type or reported emissions quantity in the report or fuel pathway application is free of material misstatement; (d) Data checks must be used to ensure that there is reasonable assurance that the report or fuel pathway application conforms to the requirements of OAR chapter 340, division 253 or OAR chapter 340, division 215, as applicable; and (e) Results calculated by the verification team must be compared with the data in the report or fuel pathway application in order to confirm the extent and impact of any omissions and errors. Any discrepancies must be investigated. (3) In addition to meeting the requirements under section (2), data checks for CFP reports and fuel pathway applications submitted under OAR chapter 340, division 253 must also meet the requirements of this section: (a) Data checks must be chosen based on the relative contribution to greenhouse gas emissions or reductions and the associated risks of contributing to material misstatement or nonconformance, as indicated in the sampling plan; (b) At a minimum, data checks must include: (A) Tracing data in the fuel pathway application or CFP report to its origin; (B) Reviewing the procedure for data compilation and collection; (C) Recalculating intermediate and final data to check original calculations; (D) Reviewing calculation methodologies used by the responsible entity for conformance with OAR chapter 340, division 253; and (E) Reviewing meter and analytical instrumentation measurement accuracy and calibration for consistency with the requirements of OAR chapter 340, division 253, as applicable; and (c) In the comparison of the verification team’s calculated results with reported data, the comparison of data checks must also include the following: (A) A narrative to indicate which data were checked; (B) The types and quantity of data evaluated; (C) The percentage of reported source data covered by data checks; and (D) Any separate discrepancies that were identified in the CFP report or fuel pathway application. (4) In addition to meeting the requirements under section (2), data checks for GHG Reporting Program emissions data reports submitted under OAR chapter 340, division 215 must also meet the requirements of this section: (a) Data checks must be used for emissions sources and fuel and electricity transactions data, as applicable, based on their relative contributions to emissions and the associated risks of contributing to material misstatement or nonconformance, as indicated in the sampling plan; (b) At a minimum, data checks must include: (A) Tracing data in the emissions data report to its origin; (B) Recalculating emissions estimates to check original calculations; (C) Reviewing calculation methodologies used by the responsible entity for conformance with OAR chapter 340, division 215; and (D) Reviewing meter and fuel analytical instrumentation measurement accuracy and calibration for consistency with the requirements of OAR chapter 340, division 215, as applicable; (c) In addition to ensuring with reasonable assurance that the emissions data report conforms to the requirements of OAR chapter 340, division 215, the review of conformance must ensure the following information is correctly reported, as applicable: (A) For facilities that combust natural gas, natural gas supplier customer account number, service account identification number, or other primary account identifier(s); (B) For suppliers of natural gas, end user names, account identification numbers, and natural gas deliveries are reported using the appropriate units; and (C) Energy generation, disposition information, and electricity purchases and acquisitions; and (d) In the comparison of the verification team’s calculated results with reported data, the comparison of data checks must also include the following: (A) A narrative to indicate which sources and transactions were checked; (B) The types and quantity of data that were evaluated for each source and transaction; (C) The percentage of reported emissions covered by data checks; and (D) Any separate discrepancies that were identified in emissions data. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 468.020, 468A.050, 468A.266, 468A.271, 468A.277 & 468A.280 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 468A.010, 468A.015, 468A.050, 468A.265 through 468A.277 & 468A.280 History: DEQ 14-2020, adopt filed 05/07/2020, effective 05/07/2020