Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart C - Protection of Natural Resources › Article III - Air Resources › Chapter 145 - INTERSTATE POLLUTION TRANSPORT REDUCTION › Subchapter E - CO[2] BUDGET TRADING PROGRAM › CO[2] EMISSIONS OFFSET PROJECTS › Section 145.392 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in
							 §§
													145.391-145.397 (relating to
							 CO2 emissions offset projects), have the following
							 meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
AEPS-Alternative energy portfolio
							 standards
-Standards establishing that a certain amount of energy sold
							 from alternative energy sources, as defined under section 2 of the Alternative
							 Energy Portfolio Standards Act (73 P.S. §
														1648.2), is included as part of the sources
							 of electric generation by electric utilities within this Commonwealth.
Anaerobic digester
-A device that
							 promotes the decomposition of organic material to simple organics and gaseous
							 biogas products, in the absence of elemental oxygen, usually accomplished by
							 means of controlling temperature and volume, and that includes a methane
							 recovery system.
Anaerobic digestion
-The
							 decomposition of organic material including manure brought about through the
							 action of microorganisms in the absence of elemental oxygen.
Anaerobic storage
-Storage of
							 organic material in an oxygen-free environment, or under oxygen-free
							 conditions, including holding tanks, ponds and lagoons.
Biogas
-Gas resulting from the
							 decomposition of organic matter under anaerobic conditions, the principle
							 constituents of which are methane and carbon dioxide.
Conflict of interest
-A situation
							 that may arise with respect to an individual in relation to any specific
							 project sponsor, CO2 emissions offset project or
							 category of offset projects, such that the individual's other activities or
							 relationships with other persons or organizations render or may render the
							 individual incapable of providing an impartial certification opinion, or
							 otherwise compromise the individual's objectivity in performing certification
							 functions.
Forest offset project
-An offset
							 project involving reforestation, improved forest management or avoided
							 conversion.
Forest offset project data
							 report
-The report prepared by a project sponsor each year that
							 provides the information and documentation required by §§
							 145.391-145.397 or the forest offset protocol.
Forest offset protocol
-The protocol
							 titled "Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Offset Protocol U.S. Forest
							 Projects," published by the participating states on June 12, 2013.
Independent verifier
-An individual
							 that has been approved by the Department or its agent to conduct verification
							 activities.
Intentional reversal
-Any reversal
							 caused by a forest owner's negligence, gross negligence or willful intent,
							 including harvesting, development and harm to the area within the offset
							 project boundary.
Market penetration rate
-A measure
							 of the diffusion of a technology, product or practice in a defined market, as
							 represented by the percentage of annual sales for a product or practice, or as
							 a percentage of the existing installed stock for a product or category of
							 products, or as the percentage of existing installed stock that utilizes a
							 practice.
Offset project
-
(i) All equipment, materials, items or
						  actions directly related to the reduction of CO2e
						  emissions or the sequestration of carbon specified in a consistency application
						  submitted under §
													145.394 (relating to application
						  process).
(ii) This term does not
						  include equipment, materials, items or actions unrelated to an offset project
						  reduction of CO2e emissions or the sequestration of
						  carbon but occurring at a location where an offset project occurs, unless
						  specified in § 145.395 (relating to CO2 emissions
						  offset project standards).
Project commencement
-
(i) For an offset project involving physical
						  construction, other work at an offset project site or installation of equipment
						  or materials, the date of the beginning of the activity.
(ii) For an offset project that involves the
						  implementation of a management activity or protocol, the date on which the
						  activity is first implemented or the protocol is first utilized.
(iii) For an offset project involving
						  reforestation, improved forest management or avoided conversion, the date
						  specified in section
						  3.2 of the forest offset
						  protocol.
Project sponsor
-The sponsor of an
							 offset project under §§
													145.391 -145.397.
Regional-type anaerobic digester
-An
							 anaerobic digester using feedstock from more than one agricultural operation or
							 importing feedstock from more than one agricultural operation.
Reporting period
-The period of time
							 covered by a forest offset project data report. The first reporting period for
							 a forest offset project in an initial crediting period may consist of 6 to 24
							 consecutive months; all subsequent reporting periods in an initial crediting
							 and all reporting periods in any renewed crediting period must consist of 12
							 consecutive months.
Reversal
-A greenhouse gas emission
							 reduction or greenhouse gas removal enhancement for which
							 CO2 offset allowances have been issued that is
							 subsequently released or emitted back into the atmosphere due to any
							 intentional or unintentional circumstance.
System benefit fund
-Any fund
							 collected directly from retail electricity or natural gas ratepayers.
Total solids
-The total of all solids
							 in a sample, including the total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and
							 volatile suspended solids.
Unintentional reversal
-Any reversal,
							 including wildfires, insects or disease, that is not the result of the forest
							 owner's negligence, gross negligence or willful intent.
Verification
-The confirmation by an
							 independent verifier that certain parts of a CO2
							 emissions offset project consistency application and measurement, monitoring or
							 verification report conforms to the requirements of §§
							 145.391-145.397.
Volatile solids
-The fraction of
							 total solids that is comprised primarily of organic matter as defined in EPA
							 Method Number 160.4, Methods for the Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes
							 (MCAWW) (EPA/600/4-79/020).
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §
															145.302 (relating to definitions);
								25 Pa. Code §
															145.391 (relating to purpose); 25
								Pa. Code §
															145.393 (relating to general
								requirements); 25 Pa. Code §
															145.394 (relating to application
								process); 25 Pa. Code §
															145.395 (relating to
								CO2 emissions offset project standards); and 25 Pa. Code
								§
															145.397 (relating to award and
								recordation of CO2 offset
								allowances).