WSR 14-16-076
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
[Order 13-13—Filed July 31, 2014, 3:59 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is proposing to amend chapter 173-441 WAC, Reporting of emissions of greenhouse gases, in order to maintain consistency with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) greenhouse gas reporting program, as required by RCW 70.94.151. The following are examples of the proposed amendments:
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Revising the global warming potentials in WAC 173-441-040.
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Updating calculation and monitoring methods.
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Making minor streamlining revisions to reporting requirements.
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Correcting minor errors and improving readability.
Ecology is not changing requirements established in chapter 173-441 WAC for transportation fuel suppliers or the following elements pertaining to facilities: Reporting threshold, confidential business information, or fees.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 70.235 RCW, Limiting greenhouse gas emissions and chapter 70.94 RCW, Washington Clean Air Act.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Ecology is required by statute to periodically update chapter 173-441 WAC to maintain consistency with EPA's greenhouse gas reporting program which has been amended multiple times since chapter 173-441 WAC was adopted in 2010. Keeping ecology's rules current with EPA increases efficiency by maximizing data uniformity at the state and federal level, utilizing the most up-to-date calculation methods based on a national standard, and enabling Washington reporters to continue using EPA's online electronic reporting tool.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Throughout this rule revision process, ecology will communicate with, and seek input from, the following agencies:
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The energy facility site evaluation council, who is required to have a similar reporting rule for the facilities they regulate.
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The EPA, to maximize consistency between the state and federal programs.
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Local clean air agencies.
Process for Developing New Rule: Throughout this rule revision process, ecology will:
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Communicate with stakeholders about key issues and ask for input as ecology develops the rule.
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Hold a stakeholder meeting and a public hearing.
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Provide information through e-mail listservs and posting on ecology's rule-making web pages.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested parties can participate by:
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Following updates on ecology's rule-making web pages, http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/rules/rules_laws.html.
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Contacting ecology staff, see below.
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Signing up for e-mail updates, by going to http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=WA-GHG-REPORTING.
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Participating in a stakeholder meeting and/or a public hearing.
Contact Stacey Callaway, Department of Ecology, Air Quality Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, Stacey.Callaway@ecy.wa.gov, (360) 407-7528.
July 31, 2014
Stuart A. Clark
Air Quality
Program Manager