1.1Overview—This guide presents a generalized systematic approach to voluntary assessment and management of the causes and impacts of GHGs. It includes actions, both institutional (legal) and engineering (physical) controls for GHG reductions, impacts, and adaptations. Options for a tiered analysis provide a priority ranking system, to address the “worst first” challenges of a facility, addressing practicality and cost-benefit.
1.2Purpose—The purpose of this guide is to provide a series of options consistent with basic principles and practices for GHG-related action. This guide encourages consistent and comprehensive assessment and management of GHG outcomes from facility and business operations.
1.2.1The guide also provides some high-level options for the monitoring, tracking and performance to evaluate the effectiveness of the commercial entity’s strategy to ensure that a reasonable approach is taken.
1.2.2This standard ties into the ASTM Committee E50 standards series related to environmental risk assessment and management.
1.3Objectives—The objectives of this guide are to determine the conditions of the facility and or/property with regard to the status of GHGs and actions to be taken to manage and reduce or offset those emissions.
1.3.1The guide provides a three-tiered decision strategy that focuses on business risk, cost-effective solutions in response to greenhouse gases, and related issues such as the need for energy independence.
1.4Limitations of this Guide—Given the variability of the different types of facilities that may wish to use this guide, and the existence of state and local regulations, it is not possible to address all the relevant standards that might apply to a particular facility. This guide uses generalized language and examples to guide the user. If it is not clear to the user how to apply standards to their specific circumstances, it is recommended that users seek assistance from qualified professionals.
1.4.1Insurance Industry—The effects of GHG on insurers are not clear. The definition of an insurable occurrence and a commencement point for when insurable claims are made, along with when conditions were discovered and the actionable information leading to an insurable loss is not clear. It may be inappropriate to speculate on GHGs that are highly uncertain for purposes of insurance related to specific events.
1.4.2This guide does not take a position on the science of climate change, its association with anthropogenic greenhouse gases, or various mathematical models generated by international bodies.
1.4.3The guide does not address water vapor as a greenhouse gas.
1.4.4The guide only addresses anthropogenic greenhouse gases.
1.5The guide uses references and information on the control, management and reduction of GHGs from many cited sources such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ISO, the World Resources Institute, and the National Academy of Sciences.
1.6Several U.S.-based federal regulatory agencies served as sources of information on existing and anticipated regulation and management of GHGs including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Note 1:New Source Performance Standards regulating methane emissions from natural gas wells are codified in 40 CFR 60 Subpart OOOO.
1.7This guide relies on current regulatory information about GHGs from various state agencies, including the California Air Resources Board, the Massachusetts and Connecticut Departments of Environmental Protection, the Washington Department of Ecology, the Western Climate Initiative, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
1.8The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.9This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.10This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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