Q800. What factors

...

influence reported greenhouse gas trends?

A800. Observed trends in greenhouse gas totals presented in EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) data are due to changes in GHG emissions reported by individual facilities and suppliers. In general, annual variations in reported emissions are caused by a variety of factors, including: the opening of new plants and ; start-up of new processes; closing of existing plants and processes; temporary plant and process shutdowns due to equipment failure or , construction projects, or decreased market demand; alterations or enhancements to manufacturing processes; and variations in annual production volume due to changes in customer demandmarket conditions. Facilities and suppliers are allowed to cease reporting if their annual emissions are reported carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) is below 15,000 metric tons CO₂e per year for three consecutive years or below 25,000 metric tons CO₂e per year for five consecutive years. Some Emission trends for some industry sectors are also impacted by revisions to emission calculation methods adopted rule changes made by the EPA to reduce burden on reporters, simplify emission calculations, or improve the quality improve data quality, broaden coverage of the reported data, or simplify emission calculations. 

...