Kristy Monji-Chung, Senior EHS Consultant
With the deadline quickly approaching, now is the time to start preparing your emissions report.
If your business operates within the South Coast Air Basin, your Annual Emissions Reports (AER) for the data year 2023 are due to South Coast AQMD by March 19, 2024. The reporting period spans from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Kindly note that both reports and fees must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Drawing on decades of experience across diverse industries, NV5’s air quality experts specialize in guiding facilities through air quality regulations and preparing precise, timely AER, AB2588, and CTR emission inventory reports. Allow us to provide valuable assistance to you and your facility.
Navigating Diverse Reporting Requirements Across California’s Air Districts
In California, there are a total of 35 air districts, each with distinct annual reporting requirements. The variability among these districts is significant, with some requesting operational data and/or equipment throughput to calculate emissions and determine applicable fees for your facility. Other programs necessitate web-based reporting per emission source, requiring electronic entry of the appropriate emission factor and activity data to determine emissions.
AB 2588 Quadrennial Report: AB2588 mandates specific facilities to inventory air toxic emissions and evaluate potential risks to the neighboring community. Reporting is obligatory every four years to the local air district.
This process is known as AB2588 Quadrennial reporting and involves:
- Facilities reporting emissions for all applicable substances listed in Table 2-5-1 of the AB2588 Emission Inventory Criteria and Guidelines regulation.
- Facilities reporting toxic emission factors, material throughput, and source release information.
- Air districts prioritizing facilities as high, intermediate, or low priority based on the reported toxic emissions and notifying high-risk facilities to prepare a risk assessment.
If your facility falls under AB2588 and is part of Phase 1A, you will be required to submit your Quadrennial Air Toxics “Hot Spots” Report along with the 2023 AER.
Revised Emissions Fees: Anticipate a 5.6% increase in emissions fees, following the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as outlined in Rule 301 Table III.
CPI serves as a gauge for the average change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services, functioning as an inflation indicator. South Coast AQMD Rule 301 incorporates a provision to annually adjust specific fees in response to changes in the CPI. This adjustment aims to offset inflation, preserving the real fee revenue over time.
To complete the submission of your AER report, you must also remit payment of emission fees calculated within the online portal based on your reported emissions.
The deadline for submitting the AER emissions report is also the deadline for paying the associated fees. Therefore, facilities should submit their AER emissions report well in advance of the deadline, particularly if additional time is needed to obtain payment for AER fees.
Facilities Reporting Under CARB’s CTR Regulation: Criteria and Toxics Reporting Regulation (CTR) is a recent California Air Resources Board initiative introduced just last year. This program aims to enhance emissions inventory data, enabling the monitoring of statewide advancements toward air quality and climate goals.
The key updates for CTR reporting in 2024 are as follows:
- Core Facilities: No changes for those with significant emissions, greenhouse gas facilities, and high-priority toxic facilities. Annual reporting remains mandatory.
- Applicability Facilities Defined as CTR Phase 2 Facilities: These are not required to report for data year 2023. However, it is essential to note that they should maintain the necessary records at the beginning of 2024 as reporting becomes mandatory for data year 2024.
- No Additional Applicability Facilities: This includes CTR Sector Phase 1 Facilities, which are obligated to report for data year 2023. No abbreviated reporting is required for data year 2023.
NV5 Is Here to Assist You
Facilities should have received a notification letter from South Coast AQMD if a report is required. The list of notified facilities is also available on AQMD’s website. If you received a letter, reach out to us for assistance, at 562.495.5777 or reach out to Kristy Monji-Chung, Senior EHS Consultant at NV5, via email at Kristy.Monji@NV5.com . We can help determine applicability and address any questions. NV5’s environmental compliance experts are prepared to guide you or handle calculations and reporting, guaranteeing hassle-free and accurate compliance, whether you’re experienced or new to emissions reporting.