
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC13385]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                       CHAPTER 134--ENERGY POLICY
 
                  SUBCHAPTER VII--GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
 
Sec. 13385. National inventory and voluntary reporting of 
        greenhouse gases
        

(a) National inventory

    Not later than one year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, 
through the Energy Information Administration, shall develop, based on 
data available to, and obtained by, the Energy Information 
Administration, an inventory of the national aggregate emissions of each 
greenhouse gas for each calendar year of the baseline period of 1987 
through 1990. The Administrator of the Energy Information Administration 
shall annually update and analyze such inventory using available data. 
This subsection does not provide any new data collection authority.

(b) Voluntary reporting

                     (1) Issuance of guidelines

        Not later than 18 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary 
    shall, after opportunity for public comment, issue guidelines for 
    the voluntary collection and reporting of information on sources of 
    greenhouse gases. Such guidelines shall establish procedures for the 
    accurate voluntary reporting of information on--
            (A) greenhouse gas emissions--
                (i) for the baseline period of 1987 through 1990; and
                (ii) for subsequent calendar years on an annual basis;

            (B) annual reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon 
        fixation achieved through any measures, including fuel 
        switching, forest management practices, tree planting, use of 
        renewable energy, manufacture or use of vehicles with reduced 
        greenhouse gas emissions, appliance efficiency, energy 
        efficiency, methane recovery, cogeneration, chlorofluorocarbon 
        capture and replacement, and power plant heat rate improvement;
            (C) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieved as a 
        result of--
                (i) voluntary reductions;
                (ii) plant or facility closings; and
                (iii) State or Federal requirements; and

            (D) an aggregate calculation of greenhouse gas emissions by 
        each reporting entity.

    Such guidelines shall also establish procedures for taking into 
    account the differential radiative activity and atmospheric 
    lifetimes of each greenhouse gas.

                      (2) Reporting procedures

        The Administrator of the Energy Information Administration shall 
    develop forms for voluntary reporting under the guidelines 
    established under paragraph (1), and shall make such forms available 
    to entities wishing to report such information. Persons reporting 
    under this subsection shall certify the accuracy of the information 
    reported.

                         (3) Confidentiality

        Trade secret and commercial or financial information that is 
    privileged or confidential shall be protected as provided in section 
    552(b)(4) of title 5.

                   (4) Establishment of data base

        Not later than 18 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, 
    through the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, 
    shall establish a data base comprised of information voluntarily 
    reported under this subsection. Such information may be used by the 
    reporting entity to demonstrate achieved reductions of greenhouse 
    gases.

(c) Consultation

    In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult, as 
appropriate, with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency.

(Pub. L. 102-486, title XVI, Sec. 1605, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3002.)
