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Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP)

Historical CBI Rulemaking Actions

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This page provides a chronological listing of Federal Register notices for all rulemaking actions impacting the handling of confidential business information (CBI) reported under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). For more information regarding the GHGRP's handling of CBI, visit the Confidential Business Information for GHG Reporting page.

CBI Rulemaking Actions

Federal Register Date Citation Action Description
01/29/2016 81 FR 4987 Proposed Rule Proposes revisions to align the Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems source category (subpart W) leak detection monitoring methods with the method in the proposed New Source Performance Standard for the oil and gas industry and allow all subpart W facilities the option to use leak detection methods for reporting (e.g., for participation in the Methane Challenge Program or other voluntary programs). Also proposes new emission factors for calculating and reporting GHG emissions from leaking equipment and confidentiality determinations for new data elements.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (20 pp, 352K)
Fact Sheet
01/15/2016 81 FR 2536 Proposed Rule Proposes revisions to specific provisions covering 30 subparts of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to streamline implementation, improve data quality, more accurately reflect industry practices, and provide clarification.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (91 pp, 890K)
Fact Sheet
10/22/2015 80 FR 64262 Final Rule Finalizes new reporting requirements for onshore petroleum and natural gas gathering and boosting activities, onshore natural gas transmission pipelines, completions and workovers of oil wells with hydraulic fracturing, and well identification numbers as well as finalizes confidentiality determinations for new data elements.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (38 pp, 562K)
Fact Sheet
02/05/2015 80 FR 6495 Notice; Extension of public comment period Announces the extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled "Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: 2015 Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems."
Notice (PDF) (2 pp, 199K)
12/9/2014 79 FR 73148 Proposed Rule Proposes amendments to subpart W of the GHGRP that would add reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from gathering and boosting systems, completions and workovers of oil wells using hydraulic fracturing, and blowdowns of natural gas transmission pipelines. Also proposes reporting of well identification numbers for onshore petroleum and natural gas production and proposes confidentiality determinations for new data elements contained in this proposal.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (136 pp, 529K)
Fact Sheet
11/25/2014 79 FR 70352 Final Rule Finalizes amendments to subpart W and subpart A of the GHGRP, including revisions to certain calculation methods, monitoring and data reporting requirements, terms and definitions, and corrects technical and editorial errors. Also finalizes confidentiality determinations for new or substantially revised data elements contained in these amendments, and finalizes a revised confidentiality determination for one existing data element.
Preamble and rule (PDF) (75 pp, 1MB)
Fact sheet
10/24/2014 79 FR 63750 Final Rule Finalizes amendments to reporting and recordkeeping requirements and an alternative electronic verification approach in 23 subparts of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. These changes address concerns that public disclosure of certain data elements that are inputs to the equations used to calculate emissions would reveal business sensitive information and maintain EPA’s ability to verify emissions, and ensure compliance.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (51 pp, 633K)
Fact Sheet
Memorandum: List of 'Inputs to Equations' Data Elements Not To Be Reported
07/09/2014 79 FR 38885 Notice Extends the deadline for public comments on the aggregation notice and related docket memorandum from July 9 to July 23, 2014.
Notice (PDF) (2 pp, 200K)
06/09/2014 79 FR 32948 Notice This notice describes the EPA’s intent to publish aggregated versions of certain data collected under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, including totals, averages, and other aggregated versions of data submitted by individual reporters. The data that EPA intends to aggregate were determined in previous rulemakings to be confidential business information in their original, non-aggregated form. This notice describes the criteria EPA plans to use to determine whether confidential data are sufficiently aggregated such that publishing them would provide useful information while protecting the data that are entitled to confidentiality. In a memorandum to the docket for this notice, EPA also provides a list of data elements identified for possible future publication in aggregated form if they meet the final version of these criteria.
Notice (PDF) (6 pp, 225K)
Memo: Publication of Aggregated Greenhouse Gas Data
03/10/2014 79 FR 13394 Proposed Rule Amends subpart W of the GHGRP, including revisions to certain calculation methods, monitoring and data reporting requirements, terms and definitions, and corrects technical and editorial errors. Also proposes confidentiality determinations for new or substantially revised data elements contained in these proposed amendments, and proposes a revised confidentiality determination for one existing data element.
Preamble and rule (PDF) (68 pp, 937K)
Fact sheet
01/22/2014 79 FR 3507 Final Rule; Correction On January 22, 2014, EPA published a correction to a minor error in the November 29, 2013, final rule entitled "2013 Revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule and Final Confidentiality Determinations for New or Substantially Revised Data Elements." The correction corrects a header to the amended Table NN-2, a table in subpart NN (Suppliers of Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids), which had inadvertently been listed as Table NN-1. The error did not extend to the information contained in the Table, and reporters will be able to use the amended Table for their RY 2013 reports. Notice (PDF) (2 pp, 248K)
01/15/2014 79 FR 2614 Extension of Comment Period Extends the public comment period for the proposed rule titled Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: Amendments and Confidentiality Determinations for Fluorinated Gas Production (subpart L). The public comment period started on November 19, 2013. This notice announces the extension of the deadline for public comment from January 21, 2014 to February 20, 2014. Comments must be received on or before February 20, 2014.
Notice (PDF) (2 pp, 203K)
11/29/2013 78 FR 71904 Final Rule Finalizes amendments that consist of three parts: amendments related to global warming potentials (GWPs), other amendments largely based on feedback from stakeholders, and confidentiality determinations for new or revised data elements.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (79 pp, 935K)
Memo: Table of Final 2013 Revisions to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule
Factsheet
11/19/2013 78 FR 69337 Proposed Rule Proposes amendments to reduce the level of detail in which emissions would be reported, remove the mass-balance method from the rule, clarify the emission factor method, and revise the set of default global warming potentials (GWPs) used by subpart L reporters to calculate and report their carbon-dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. Also proposes confidentiality determinations for the reporting of the new and substantially revised data elements.
Proposed Rule (PDF) (24 pp, 400K)
Factsheet
Redline Strikeout of Proposed Changes to Subpart L: This redline strikeout document represents the combined changes proposed to the subpart L regulatory text in two proposed actions:
  • Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: Proposed Amendments and Confidentiality Determinations for Fluorinated Gas Production (This proposed rule.)
  • Revisions to Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, and Proposed Confidentiality Determinations under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (Proposed Inputs rule.)
11/13/2013 78 FR 68162 Final Rule Amends the calculation and monitoring methodologies for subpart I, Electronics Manufacturing. Changes include revising certain calculation methods and adding a new method, amending data reporting requirements, and clarifying terms and definitions. Finalizes confidentiality determinations for the reporting of the new and revised data elements being finalized in this rule. Many of these changes are in response to stakeholder feedback on specific aspects of subpart I. This final rule also amends subpart A, General Provisions, to correspond with the changes to the reporting requirements in subpart I.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (78 pp, 2MB)
Fact Sheet
More information
09/11/2013 78 FR 55994 Proposed Rule Proposes amended recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and enhanced verification procedures for certain reporters in 24 GHGRP subparts. Proposed changes would address concerns that public disclosure of certain data elements that are inputs to the equations used to calculate emissions and deferred from reporting until 2015 would reveal business sensitive information and maintain EPA’s ability to verify emissions, and ensure compliance.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (31 pp, 550K)
Fact Sheet
Memorandum: List of ‘Inputs to Equations’ Data Elements Proposed Not To Be Reported
04/02/2013 78 FR 19802 Proposed Rule Proposes confidentiality determinations for the new or substantially revised data elements other than inputs to emissions equations. EPA followed the same methodology for categorizing data elements as in previous GHGRP CBI related rules.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (77 pp, 911K)
Fact Sheet
Memorandum
Correction to Proposed Rule (PDF) (2 pp, 255K)
11/20/2012 77 FR 69585 Notice Announces an extension of the public comment period for subpart I (Electronics Manufacturing) until January 16, 2013 and that additional documentation on the proposed amendments and confidentiality determinations for subpart I is available in the docket.
Notice; extension of public comment period (PDF) (2 pp, 201K)
10/26/2012 77 FR 65377 Notice Announces EPA’s plan to authorize contractors named in the notice to access information submitted under the GHGRP that may be designated or claimed as confidential business information. EPA is accepting comments until November 5.
Notice (PDF) (3 pp, 204K)
10/16/12 77 FR 63538 Proposed Rule Proposes amending calculation and monitoring methodologies for Subpart I, Electronics Manufacturing. Also proposes confidentiality determinations for reporting of the new and revised data elements under the proposed amendments to subpart I. Many of these proposed actions are in response to a petition to reconsider specific aspects of subpart I.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (65 pp, 794K)
Subpart I Amendments Fact Sheet
08/24/12 77 FR 51477 Final Rule Finalizes confidentiality determinations for new data elements in subpart L, and defers reporting of one element in subpart L.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (19 pp, 462K)
08/13/2012 77 FR 48072 Final Rule Finalizes confidentiality determinations for most data elements to be reported under nine subparts; defers the deadline for reporting certain recently added data elements that are inputs to emission equations in three subparts; finalizes amendments to Electronics Manufacturing (subpart I) to remove the requirement for a facility to recalculate the previous reporting years emissions and resubmit them to EPA where use BAMM is allowed.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (18 pp, 311K)
Fact Sheet: Final Confidentiality Determinations for Nine Subparts and Amendments to Subparts A and I
Memorandum: Final Data Category Assignments and Confidentiality Determinations
04/13/2012 77 FR 22312 Notice Announces EPA’s plan to authorize contractors named in the notice to access information submitted under the GHGRP that may be designated or claimed as confidential business information. EPA is accepting comments until April 30, 2012.
Notice (PDF) (4 pp, 210K)
03/19/2012 77 FR 15990 Extension of Public Comment Period Extends the public comment period for the proposed rule regarding proposed confidentiality determinations for certain data elements reported under subpart W.
Announcement (PDF) (1 pg, 193K)
02/24/2012 77 FR 11039 Proposed Rule Determines which data elements reported under subpart W would be considered confidential business information (CBI); also defers deadline for reporting some inputs to emissions equations until 2015.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (23 pp, 261K)
February 2012 Fact Sheet: Proposed Confidentiality Determinations for Subpart W
Memorandum A: Proposed Data Category Assignments for Subpart W
Memorandum B: Proposed Changes to Subpart W Inputs
02/22/2012 77 FR 10434 Proposed Rule Re-proposes confidentiality determinations for the data elements in subpart I and proposes amendments to subpart I regarding calculation and reporting of emissions from facilities using BAMM.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (17 pp, 212K)
01/10/2012 77 FR 1434 Proposed Rule Proposes confidentiality determinations for 8 subparts (L, DD, II, QQ, RR, SS, TT, UU) and amendments to Table A-6 in subpart A
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (19 pp, 230K)
Fact Sheet
Memorandum: Proposed data category assignments and CBI determinations
12/17/2012 N/A Memorandum Memorandum: Summary of Evaluation of Inputs to Emission Equations Data Elements Deferred Until 2013
10/17/2011 76 FR 64010 Direct Final Rule Special rules governing certain information obtained under the Clean Air Act: Technical Correction
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (24 pp, 91K)
08/25/2011 76 FR 53057 Final Rule Finalizes the deferral of reporting data elements that are inputs to emissions equations until March 2013 for some data elements and March 2015 for other data elements.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (15 pp, 235K)
CBI Deferral Fact Sheet
CBI Deferral Frequently Asked Questions
Process for Evaluating and Potentially Amending Part 98 Inputs to Emission Equations
CBI Deferral Response to Comments
08/23/2011 76 FR 52659 Notice Access by EPA Contractors to Confidential Business Information (CBI) Related to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
Notice (PDF) (4 pp, 192K)
05/26/2011 76 FR 30782 Final Rule Finalizes confidentiality determinations for 34 subparts for data elements that are not inputs to emissions equations. Finalizes amendments to 40 CFR 2 governing CBI obtained under 40 CFR 98.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (37 pp, 330K)
Final Data Category Assignments and Confidentiality Determinations for Part 98 Reporting Elements
Fact sheet
PowerPoint presentation
Response to Comments
12/27/2010 75 FR 81366 Call for Information Requests additional information and public comment regarding potential harm to businesses by public release of inputs to emission equations.
Call for Information (PDF) (4 pp, 139K)
12/27/2010 75 FR 81350 Proposed Rule Proposes to defer the reporting of data elements that are inputs to emission equations for three years.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (14 pp, 183K)
Fact Sheet
PowerPoint presentation
12/27/2010 75 FR 81338 Interim Final Rule Defers until 08/31/2010 the reporting of data elements that are inputs to emissions equations. [This action is now moot because the reporting date for year 2010 emissions has been extended to 9-30/2011.]
Interim Final Rule (PDF) (10 pp, 169K)
07/27/2010 75 FR 43889 Proposed Rule Supplements the 07/07/2010 proposal by proposing confidentiality determinations for data elements that were added or revised by other rule revisions.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (4 pp, 159K)
Data Category Assignments for Revised Part 98 Reporting Elements
07/07/2010 75 FR 39094 Proposed Rule Proposes determinations of the confidentiality status of data for all Part 98 subparts. Proposes amendments to 40 CFR 2 governing CBI obtained under 40 CFR 98.
Preamble and Rule (PDF) (39 pp, 302K)
Data Category Assignments for Part 98 Reporting Elements

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