EPA finalizes greenhouse gas reporting rule

New York City On Jan. 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will, for the first time, require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas data under a new reporting system. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are produced by burning fossil fuels and through industrial and biological processes.

Under the program, which EPA administrator Lisa Jackson signed into effect on Tuesday, 10,000 industrial facilities that generate more than 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas, and collectively produce 85% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, must start collecting greenhouse gas data on Jan. 1.