The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) announced an extension to the March 31, 2011, deadline for its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program (Program). This Program was launched in October 2009 and requires the reporting of GHG emissions data from approximately 10,000 large emission sources and fuel suppliers across a range of industry sectors. These industries have been gearing up for this requirement over the past year. This delay is a setback for the Agency in its efforts to move forward a timely GHG regulatory agenda.
In response to various mandates, the Agency recently completed GHG data reporting requirements for a wide range of different industries. A key feature of reporting was to include an online electronic reporting application. According to EPA’s press release, this tool is not yet ready for operation. Without the ability to electronically submit the voluminous amounts of data required, the entire reporting program is unable to continue forward. EPA seems to have run into obstacles in developing this tool, and today’s decision reflects the agency’s intent to continue testing the electronic reporting tool before making it a requirement.
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