Ecology inviting community to weigh in on greenhouse emissions

Since 2008, Washington Department of Ecology has been working on a rule for how the state’s largest sources of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions will report their releases. A hearing planned for Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Spokane is your chance to be heard on this proposed rule. Under House Bill 2815, Gov. Chris Gregoire and the 2008 Legislature required the owners or operators of large fleets of vehicles and large stationary sources of greenhouse gases to start reporting their emissions in 2010. Lawmakers directed the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) to adopt a rule for developing and implementing an emissions reporting system. Ecology’s proposed rule is available for public review and comment. You can find it at www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173441.html. The rule will apply to owners or operators of: • A fleet of on-road motor vehicles that emits at least 2,500 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year in Washington. The state’s largest motor vehicle fleets will meet this threshold. They include trucking and delivery fleets, rental car companies, large customer service fleets (such as phone, cable or power companies) and large government-agency fleets. • A source or combination of sources that emits at least 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year in the state. Washington’s largest factories and power facilities will meet this threshold. They include refineries, pulp and paper mills, cement kilns, some lumber mills, large food processors, and some entities that use fossil fuels to generate power, steam, heat or cooling. Large fleets of aircraft, marine vessels or rail equipment also must report if they emit at least 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year in the state. Spokane’s hearing will be held: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 6 p.m. at Ecology’s Eastern Regional Office, 4601 N. Monroe St. Ecology will accept public comments on the proposed rule through Nov. 12. Send written comments to Nancy Pritchett, Air Quality Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. E-mail comments to npri461@ecy.wa.gov.