ECMPS Support

Recently, stakeholders have started to receive emails regarding the Cross State Air Pollution Rule, which is also referred to as the Transport Rule.

In order to insure that ECMPS stakeholders have received this information, we will be posting the emails on ECMPS News.

The following email was sent from the Clean Air Markets Division (CAMD) on July 28, 2011 and signed by Sam Napolitano who is the Director of CAMD:

The Cross State Air Pollution Rule, establishing the Transport Rule (TR) trading programs, was signed by the EPA Administrator July 6, 2011.

This rule establishes four trading programs -- the TR NOx annual, NOx ozone season, SO2 Group 1, and SO2 Group 2 trading programs -- to further reduce emissions of NOx and SO2 in the eastern half of the United States. These new interstate trading programs are very similar to the existing Acid Rain and CAIR trading programs, using, for example, the same designated representatives and the same data systems for reporting emissions and managing allowances. The Transport Rule text, along with a fact sheet and other supporting information, can be found here.

Between now and January 1, 2012, when the first phase of the TR NOx and
SO2 annual programs begins, EPA will record 2012 TR allowance allocations for existing units. This will be completed this fall; allocation amounts for existing units can be viewed at EPA's website above. Before an allocation can be recorded for a unit, the current DR (or a new DR, if the owners and operators select a different DR) for the source that includes the unit must associate himself or herself with each applicable TR trading program for the source. Later this Summer, DRs will be able to complete this task either online via CBS, or by submitting a hardcopy Certificate of Representation form. CAMD will send an email when the CBS functionality and the modified Certificate of Representation form are available. If a source is covered by multiple programs (ARP, CAIR, or any TR trading program), the DR must be the same person for all of these programs.

If you have any questions about the TR allocations or the method used to calculate the allocations, contact Brian Fisher at 202-343-9633 or fisher.brian@epa.gov. For general questions about the TR trading programs, contact Robert Miller at 202-343-9077 or miller.robertl@epa.gov.

We will be in touch via email as we work together to ensure smooth implementation of the TR trading programs.