The Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) approved Oregon's original greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting rules in 2008, which established GHG registering, reporting, and other requirements for facilities that emit GHGs, including fuel and electricity suppliers. These rules were updated in 2020, making these requirements mandatory for Oregon facilities, and requiring third party verification data for the 2021 calendar year to be submitted beginning in the Spring of 2022. Oregon third party verification requirements apply to the 2021 calendar year data submitted beginning in the Spring of 2022.
Verification generally applies to large facilities and suppliers submitting reports with GHG emissions equal to or greater than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) in the prior calendar year.
Important 2022 deadlines include:
Under the new verification requirements, verification statements are due for permit holders, petroleum and natural gas systems, natural gas suppliers, fuel suppliers, and producers on August 31, 2022. Verification statements for electricity suppliers are due September 30, 2022.
What is a DEQ-Approved Verification Body?
Only DEQ-approved verification bodies may be engaged by responsible entities to provide verification services in Oregon, to ensure accuracy and transparency. These verification bodies must go through a comprehensive process to become state-approved.
DEQ-approved verifiers must first be accredited by California Air Resources Board (CARB) or be a part of the American National Standards Institute’s National Accreditation Board (ANAB) GHG Validation and Verification Body program. The validated verifying body must then pass Oregon’s Qualification exam in order to serve the state of Oregon as an official third party verifier. These approved organizations service specific industries based on their qualifications.
To find out more about OR’s mandatory GHG requirements, read here.