Atmospheric Emissions - Reporting

Legislation

Key Legislation	The UK is party to a number of international conventions and EU Directives that require the provision of atmospheric emission inventories, in particular: Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution 1979 and its protocols. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992 (Rio Convention) and its protocols (e.g. Kyoto Protocol). Council Directive on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants 2001/81/EC. This is implemented in the UK through the National Emissions Ceilings Regulations 2002. Council Decision 93/389/EEC for a monitoring mechanism of Community CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions - European Pollutant Emissions Register (EPER). UN-ECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) Council Regulation 166/2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR). Council Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (EU Emissions Trading Scheme - EU ETS). EC Directive 96/61 on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.
European Pollutant Emissions Register (EPER) European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR)	Article 15(3) of the IPPC Directive requires the publication of an EC inventory of principal emissions and their sources, known as the 'European Pollutant Emissions Register' (EPER). This provides information to the public, and helps authorities to assess the effectiveness of IPPC and identify priority areas. For the reporting year 2007 onwards, the EPER is replaced by the E-PRTR under Council Regulation 166/2006 and with this transition comes a number of new reporting requirements (see Pending Legislation). At the same time as a signatory state to the UNECE PRTR Protocol, the UK is required to establish a national PRTR (UK-PRTR), as opposed to the separate inventories that currently exist. DECC collects emissions data for input to the EPER and now the E-PRTR through the EEMS Reporting System (see below), however some changes are required in order to fully comply (see Pending Legislation).
EEMS Reporting	The Environmental Emissions Monitoring System (EEMS) was designed to permit the analysis of offshore (including terminals) oil industry environmental data, providing the offshore industry with an independent source of totalled environmental data on which to base its discussions with government or within the industry itself. The dataset is accessible to both Government (DECC) and industry (Oil and Gas UK) and acts as the primary data storage and reporting resource for both the UK Government and the offshore industry. EEMS provides the vehicle for offshore oil and gas industry emissions to be incorporated into annual UK inventories of atmospheric emissions that are required under a number of international conventions and EU instruments (see above). The EEMS reporting system now also includes a number of statutory reporting requirements, in particular reporting requirements under the Offshore Combustions Installations (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Regulations 2001 (as amended) (see Power Generation).
EU Emissions Trading Scheme	In addition to atmospheric reporting through the EEMS system there are also other statutory reporting requirements under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (see Power Generation and Flaring for further details).

Consent Needed and How to Obtain It

Consent Needed	A number of consents may be needed for atmospheric emissions, in particular Flaring, Venting and Power Generation. See specific topics for consent requirements. The following applies only to reporting requirements under EEMS.
How to Apply	Not applicable
Who to Apply to	Not applicable
When to Apply	Not applicable

Performance Standards

Not applicable

Sampling/Monitoring Requirements

Measurements and Calculations

The methodology involves the application of emission factors to process information which includes:

Fuel consumption in process turbines, heaters and engines;
Flaring and venting volumes;
Tanker loading volumes; and
Number and type of components (fugitive emission est.).

More specific factors may be used in place of the default factors and this is being encouraged by DEBRR.

Reporting Requirements

What to Report	An annual report of all atmospheric emissions from the following must be submitted: Production of oil and gas from offshore reservoirs, including loading operations; Onshore terminals engaged in processing/storing/loading; and Exploration, appraisal and development drilling rigs. Emissions from support vessels, tankers on-route, helicopters and seismic vessels are not included, because these emissions are input by other sectors into the UK National Inventory.
How to Report	Annual atmospheric emission data should be reported by completing the EEMSATMO form that can be downloaded from the EEMS Website. The EEMS reporting form includes a number of calculations to assist in emission reporting. Additional guidance on completion of the form and factors used in the calculations can be obtained from the Guidance Notes, which is also on the EEMS website. .
Who to Report to	Completed reports are submitted electronically to the EEMS website.
When to Report	Completed EEMS forms must be submitted by 7th February each year. For Wells, the completed EEMS form must be submitted one month after completion.

Non Compliance

Not applicable

Renewal and Variation

Not applicable

Pending Legislation

European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) and UK-PRTR

Since 2001 the European Commission has collected data on mass emissions from all Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive installations, and published a collation and analysis of the data in the form of the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER). The purpose is to make available information for the public and regulators, and to have data for assessing compliance with EU and international obligations.

Under this system, the UK provided the necessary emissions data through the pollution inventories for England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and DECC regulated offshore oil and gas installations, as well as estimates made by DEFRA on behalf of local authority regulated IPPC installations in England and Wales.

For the reporting year 2007 onwards, the EPER is replaced by the E-PRTR and with the transition comes a number of new reporting requirements. AT the same time, as a signatory state to the PRTR Protocol, the UK is required to establish a national PRTR (UK-PRTR) as opposed to the separate inventories that currently exist.

A consultation on the required changes under E-PRTR has recently closed and the consultation documents are available on the DEFRA website.

DECC already collects emissions data for offshore oil and gas activities via EEMS. As such, it is not a new E-PRTR sector, but the reporting requirements of EEMS in terms of substances and thresholds do need to be extended to meet those of the E-PRTR Regulation. In this context, Oil & Gas UK commissioned an analysis (which has now been completed) to identify emissions of all E-PRTR pollutants that are relevant from an offshore perspective. DECC and Oil & Gas UK will evaluate the results of this analysis to agree a way forward regarding compliance by the offshore industry with E-PRTR reporting requirements.

In addition, DECC will continue to work closely with Oil & Gas UK on the intention to use the provisions of existing offshore regulations (e.g. the Offshore IPPC Regulations) for the purposes of enforcing the E-PRTR reporting requirements and imposing penalties for non-compliance.

DECC will need to review and adjust accordingly the annual fees charged to operators for the maintenance of the EEMS database, in order to reflect new developments relating to E-PRTR/UK-PRTR reporting.

Snippets

Carbon Accounting	DECC (ex DEFRA) is currently seeking views on the proposals for carbon accounting in the UK under the Climate Change Bill. The Climate Change Bill requires the Secretary of State to make provision for a carbon accounting scheme by the introduction of new carbon accounting regulations. Carbon accounting will be used to determine compliance with the carbon budgets and targets established under the Bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. Whilst the basic requirements of a carbon accounting system are established in the Bill, secondary legislation will be required to establish the details. Read More
EEMS Update	DECC has updated the EEMS atmospheric emissions reporting form to include statutory reporting requirements under the Offshore Combustion Regulations.
UK Environmental Observation Framework	A 5 year UK-Environmental Observation Framework (UK-EOF) has been launched. UK-EOF is a partnership between Government departments, Research Councils and agencies. The UK-EOF comes from a recognition of the need to address the issues surrounding the collection and sharing of long-term datasets. The UK-EOF aims, by 2013, to find solutions to the long-standing issues of funding and sharing the datasets, and to enable the UK to achieve a robust evidence base by contributing to many national and international programmes such as Living With Environmental Change.
PM10 Pollution	The European Commission has written to 23 Member States to request information about actions they are taking to comply with the EU's air quality standard for dangerous airborne particles known as PM10. These coarse particles, emitted by industry and traffic, can cause asthma, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer and premature death. The Commission's action follows the entry into force on 11 June of the major new EU air quality directive, which allows Member States to request limited extra time to meet the PM10 standard under certain conditions. Read More