250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-120-05-46.15

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 250-RICR-120-05-46.15 - Compliance Certification

46.15.1Compliance certification report

A. Applicability and deadline. - For each control period in which a CO₂ budget source is subject to the CO₂ requirements of § 46.7(A) of this Part, the CO₂ authorized account representative of the source shall submit, to the Department or its agent, by the March 1 following the relevant control period, a compliance certification report. A compliance certification report is not required as part of the compliance obligation during an interim control period.

B. Contents of report - The CO₂ authorized account representative shall include in the compliance certification report under §46.15.1(A) of this Part the following elements, in a format prescribed by the Department concerning each unit at the source and subject to the CO₂ budget emissions limitation for the control period covered by the report:

1. Identification of the source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source;

2. At the CO₂ authorized account representative's option, the serial numbers of the CO₂ allowances that are to be deducted from the source's compliance account under §46.12.5 of this Part, for the control period, including the serial numbers of any CO₂ offset allowances that are to be deducted subject to the limitations of §46.12.5(A)(1)(c) of this Part; and

3. The compliance certification under 46.15.1(C) of this Part.

C. Compliance certification - In the compliance certification report under §46.15.1(A) of this Part, the CO₂ authorized account representative shall certify, based on reasonable inquiry of those persons with primary responsibility for operating the source and the CO₂ budget units at the source in compliance with the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, whether the source and each CO₂ budget unit for which the compliance certification is submitted was operated during the calendar years covered by the report in compliance with the requirements of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, applicable to the unit, including:

1. Whether the source was operated in compliance with the CO₂ requirements of § 46.7(A) of this Part;

2. Whether the monitoring plan applicable to each unit at the source has been maintained to reflect the actual operation and monitoring of the unit, and contains all information necessary to attribute CO₂ emissions to the unit, in accordance with §§ 46.13 and 46.14 of this Part;

3. Whether all the CO₂ emissions from the units at the source were monitored or accounted for through the missing data procedures and reported in the quarterly monitoring reports, including whether conditional data were reported in the quarterly reports in accordance with §§ 46.13 and 46.14 of this Part. If conditional data were reported, the owner or operator shall indicate whether the status of all conditional data has been resolved and all necessary quarterly report resubmissions have been made;

4. Whether the facts that form the basis for certification under §§ 46.13 and 46.14 of this Part, of each monitor at each unit at the source, or for using an accepted monitoring method or alternative monitoring method approved under §§ 46.13 and 46.14 of this Part, if any, have changed; and

5. If a change is required to be reported under §46.15.1(C)(4) of this Part, specify the nature of the change, the reason for the change, when the change occurred, and how the unit's compliance status was determined subsequent to the change, including what method was used to determine emissions when a change mandated the need for monitor recertification.

46.15.2Department's action on compliance certifications

A. The Department or its agent may review and conduct independent audits concerning any compliance certification or any other submission under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program and make appropriate adjustments of the information in the compliance certifications or other submissions.

B. The Department or its agent may deduct CO₂ allowances from or transfer CO₂ allowances to a source's compliance account based on the information in the compliance certifications or other submissions, as adjusted under §46.15.2(A) of this Part.

250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-120-05-46.15

Amended effective 12/25/2018