Glossary

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Biogenic CO2 is carbon dioxide generated by burning biomass in combustion units which is emitted into the atmosphere.

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Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a naturally occurring gas and is a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes. It is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the Earth's radiative balance. It is the reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are measured and therefore has a Global Warming Potential of 1.

Catalytic cracking unit is refinery process unit in which petroleum derivatives are continuously charged and hydrocarbon molecules in the presence of a catalyst are fractured into smaller molecules, or react with a contact material suspended in a fluidized bed to improve feedstock quality for additional processing and the catalyst or contact material is continuously regenerated by burning off coke and other deposits.

Climate Change is any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). Climate change may result from:

  • natural factors, such as changes in the sun's intensity or slow changes in the Earth's orbit around the sun;
  • natural processes within the climate system (e.g. changes in ocean circulation); and
  • human activities that change the atmosphere's composition (e.g. through burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g. deforestation, reforestation, urbanization, desertification, etc.)

CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) is a metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential (GWP). The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of the gas by the associated GWP.

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CO2e = (tons of a gas) * (GWP of the gas)

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Delayed Coking Unit is a refinery process unit in which high molecular weight petroleum derivatives are thermally cracked and petroleum coke is produced in a series of closed, batch system reactors. A delayed coking unit consists of the coke drums and ancillary equipment associated with a single fractionator.

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EAFS (Electric Arc Furnace) is a furnace that produces molten alloy metal and heats the charge materials with electric arcs from carbon electrodes.

Exporter is any person, company or organization of record that transfers for sale or for other benefit, domestic products from the United States to another country or to an affiliate in another country, excluding any such transfers on behalf of the United States military or military purposes including foreign military sales under the Arms Export Control Act. An exporter is not the entity merely transporting the domestic products, rather an exporter is the entity deriving the principal benefit from the transaction.

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Flare is a combustion device, whether at ground level or elevated, that uses an open flame to burn combustible gases with combustion air provided by uncontrolled ambient air around the flame.

Fluid coking unit is one or more refinery process units in which high molecular weight petroleum derivatives are thermally cracked and petroleum coke is continuously produced in a fluidized bed system. The fluid coking unit includes equipment for controlling air pollutant emissions and for heat recovery on the fluid coking burner exhaust vent.

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Gas collection system is a system of pipes used to collect landfill gas from different locations in the landfill by means of a fan or similar mechanical draft equipment to a single location for treatment (thermal destruction) or use. A single landfill may have multiple gas collection systems. Landfill gas collection systems do not include "passive" systems, whereby landfill gas flows naturally to the surface of the landfill where an opening or pipe (vent) is installed to allow for natural gas flow.

GHG Emissions are the release of a greenhouse gas (GHG) into the atmosphere.

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is the cumulative radiative forcing effects of a gas over a time horizon resulting from the emission of a unit mass of gas relative to a reference gas. The GWP-weighted emissions of direct greenhouse gases are presented in terms of equivalent emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2e).

Greenhouse Gas is any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to, water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

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HFC-23 is a type of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and a greenhouse gas. Hydrofluorocarbons are compounds that contain only hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon atoms. They were introduced as alternatives to ozone depleting substances in serving many industrial, commercial, and personal needs. HFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial processes and are also used in manufacturing. They do not significantly deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, but they are powerful greenhouse gases. HFC-23 has a global warming potential of 11,700.

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Importer is any person, company, or organization of record that for any reason brings a product into the United States from a foreign country, excluding introduction into U.S. jurisdiction exclusively for United States military purposes. An importer is the person, company, or organization primarily liable for the payment of any duties on the merchandise or an authorized agent acting on their behalf.

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Methane (CH4) is a hydrocarbon and a greenhouse gas. Methane is produced through anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition of waste in landfills, animal digestion, decomposition of animal wastes, production and distribution of natural gas and petroleum, coal production, and incomplete fossil fuel combustion. The global warming potential of methane most recently estimated at 23 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2).

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NAICS code is the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. It is a six-digit code that represents the product, activity, or service at a facility or supplier. The codes are listed in the Federal Register and defined in "North American Industrial Classification System Manual 2007," available from the U.S. Department of Commerce at http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 296 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2). Major sources of nitrous oxide include soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning.

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PFC-116 is a type of perfluorocarbon (PFC) and a greenhouse gas. PFCs are a group of man-made chemicals composed of carbon and fluorine only. These chemicals were introduced as alternatives, along with hydrofluorocarbons, to the ozone depleting substances. PFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial processes and are also used in manufacturing. PFCs do not harm the stratospheric ozone layer, but they are powerful greenhouse gases. PFC-116 has a GWP of XXX

PFC-114 is a type of perfluorocarbon (PFC) and a greenhouse gas. PFCs are a group of man-made chemicals composed of carbon and fluorine only. These chemicals were introduced as alternatives, along with hydrofluorocarbons, to the ozone depleting substances. PFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial processes and are also used in manufacturing. PFCs do not harm the stratospheric ozone layer, but they are powerful greenhouse gases. PFC-116 has a GWP of XXX

Process Vent is a gas stream that is discharged through a conveyance to the atmosphere either directly or after passing through a control device. The gas stream originates from a unit operation and contains or has the potential to contain GHGs generated in the process.

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Waelz Kiln is an inclined rotary kiln in which zinc-containing materials are charged together with a carbon reducing agent (e.g., petroleum coke, metallurgical coke, or anthracite coal).

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COMING SOON

KMT CO2e

MT CO2e Common international measurement for the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions. A metric ton is equal to 2205 lbs or 1.1 short tons.

MMT

FRS ID

Producer

Local Distribution Company

Natural Gas Liquids Fractionators

Sector

Subsector

Alternate Emission Monitoring Methods

Simplified reporting (C)

Abatement technology (E/V)

Smelter technology (F)

CO2 capture (G/P/S)

Operating kilns (H)

Nitric acid trains (V)

Asphalt Blowing Units (Y)

Coke Calcining Units (Y)

Traditional Fluid Coking Units (Y)

Catalytic Reforming Units (Y)

Electrothermic furnaces (GG)

Biomass based (PP)

GHG Quantities

Power Plants

Refineries

Chemicals

- Hydrogen Production

- Nitric Acid Production

- Ammonia Manufacturing

- Adipic Acid Production

- Silicon Carbide Production

- Titanium Dioxide Production

- Phosphoric Acid Production

- Soda Ash Manufacturing

- Other Chemicals

Metals

- Iron and Steel

- Aluminum Production

- Zinc Production

- Lead Production

- Other Metals

Pulp and Paper

- Pulp and Paper Producers

- Other Paper Producers

Minerals

- Cement Production

- Lime Manufacturing

- Glass Production

- Other Minerals

Other Industrial

- Food Processing

- Oil and Natural Gas

- Ethanol Production

- Other Manufacturing

- Other

Government and Commercial

- Military

- Commercial

- Universities

- Hospitals

- Other Government

Coal to Liquids Suppliers

Petroleum Product Suppliers

Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids Suppliers

Industrial Gas Suppliers

Suppliers of CO2

Sulfur Recovery Unit (Y)

Wet- process phosphoric acid process lines (Z)

Chloride process lines (Z)

Direct Emitters are facilities that combust fuels or otherwise put GHGs into the atmosphere directly from their facility. An example of this is a power plant that burns coal or natural gas and emitting CO2 directly into the atmosphere. EPA estimates that the 2010 data on direct emitters covers about 50% of total U.S. emissions.

Suppliers are those facilities that supply fossil fuels and certain industrial gases with high global warming potentials into the U.S. economy. These fuels and industrial gases are not emitted from the supplier facility but instead distributed throughout the country and used. An example of this is gasoline which is sold into the U.S. economy and ultimately burned in cars throughout the country. EPA estimates that about XX% of total U.S. emissions are covered in the suppliers section of this data.

This web site is maintained by a contractor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (RY2023.R.01)