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News Release
For release: October 23, 2008 Contacts: Environmental Quality Commission Approves Oregon’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules New rules will allow Oregon to track greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sources The Environmental Quality Commission voted unanimously today to adopt reporting rules for greenhouse gas emissions. The rules establish reporting criteria for Oregon businesses and industries and will provide DEQ with accurate information about the amount of greenhouse gases these activities produce in Oregon each year.
Last year Governor Kulongoski requested that the commission adopt reporting rules as a key step in a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the impacts of global warming and put Oregon on track to reducing greenhouse gas levels to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Obtaining accurate greenhouse gas emissions data is a key component to both the Western Climate Initiative, and 2007 Oregon legislation that put Oregon’s greenhouse gas reduction goals into statute.
“Addressing the issue of climate change is the most pressing environmental and economic issue of our time,” Governor Ted Kulongoski said. “This new rule will help us obtain the fundamental information we need to target reductions of greenhouse gas emissions by identifying the sources of these global warming pollutants and is the first step in developing a cap and trade system that works for Oregon’s economy and our environment.”
Most industrial sources that have a state air discharge permit or a Title V permit will be required to track and report greenhouse gas emissions in 2009. Facilities will be required to report their GHG emissions annually after 2010 unless their total emissions are less than the equivalent of 2,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
“Figuring out what Oregon is contributing in terms of greenhouse gases is the first of many steps we must take to combat climate change,” says Bill Blosser, EQC chairman. “These rules will give us the data we need to participate in regional efforts to reduce emissions and help prepare Oregon for a carbon-limited future.”
In February 2007, Governor Kulongoski helped form the Western Climate Initiative, through which Western states and Canadian provinces are establishing regional targets for reducing greenhouse gases, participating in The Climate Registry and developing a regional market-based program to achieve reductions. That same year the governor also signed into law greenhouse gas reduction goals and HB 3543 that created Oregon’s Global Warming Commission. The reduction goals are to:
· Arrest increasing emissions by 2010. · Reduce emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020; and · Reduce emissions to 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. DEQ developed the greenhouse gas emission reporting requirements with help from an advisory committee representing a broad coalition of interest groups. The final rule is available on the DEQ Web site at: www.deq.state.or.us/aq/climate/rulemaking.htm
The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Advisory Committee met several times between October 2007 and April 2008 to discuss issues and make recommendations on the details of an Oregon reporting system for greenhouse gas emissions. The committee reached a consensus on a statewide reporting system which the Environmental Quality Commission adopted today as part of DEQ’s rules.
For More Information: Contact Brandy Albertson of DEQ’s Air Quality Program, Portland, at (503) 229-6459 or visit http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/climate/index.htm . |
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