New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Technical Guidance Guide for Assessing Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Environmental Impact Statements Draft Guide for Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in EISs, September 9,2008Guide for Assessing Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Environmental Impact Statements A. Purpose and Applicability Global climate change s emerging as one ofthe most important environmental challenges of our time. There i scientific consensus that human activity is increasing the concentration of ‘greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere and that this, in tur, is leading to serious climate ‘change, Climate change will continue to adversely affect the environment and natural rescurces ‘of New York State, thenation, and the world, The State Environmental Quality Review Act [*SEQR"; Article § ofthe Environmental Conservation Law (“ECL”) and 6 NYCRR Past 617], 'SEQR requires that lead agencies identify and assess adverse environmental impacts, and then mitigate or reduce suchimpacs to the extent they are found tobe significant. Consistent with this requirement, SEQR can be used to identify and assess climate change impacts, and the steps to minimize the emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Given the importance of climate change impacts, and SEQR"s mandate to address adverse ‘environmental impacts, DEC has been asked to provide guidance as to methods to assess and ‘mitigate these impacts vhen preparing and reviewing an environmental impact statement (CEIS"), Accordingly, this guide has been prepared to provide advice on assessing energy vse and greenhouse gas impaets in an EIS. ‘The guide does not seta threshold for the determination of significance under SEQR, which ‘would establish a particular amount of greenhouse gas emission as environmentally significant snd would thus triggerthe SEOR requirement for an environmental impact statement. Instead, the statutory and regul:tary rules for making the significance determination (ECL §8-0109; 6 NYCRR §617.7) should continue to be used, on a case by ease basis, in making that assessment. ‘The DEC anticipates that on a general basis this guide willbe applicable to larye scale projects, including major stationary sources of ar pollutants requiring a DEC permit such as electric ‘generating facilities (se 6 NYCRR Subpart 201-2) and solid waste facilities, Other large [Breenhouse gas emiting facilities and projects that generate millions of wehicle miles traveled or ‘use significant amounts of electricity wil also find this guide useful, such as very large scale resort or residential and commercial development projects. Page - 1 - Draft Guide for Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in EISs, September 9, 2008B. Focus of this Guidance & Other Resources “There are six main GHGs: carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (NO), methane (CH), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF). Evaluation of ‘the emissions ofeach ofthese GHGs could potentially be included inthe scope ofan EIS. Emissions of CO; account for an estimated 88% ofthe total annual GHG emissions in New York ‘State.' The overwhelming majority of these emissions — estimated at 250 million tons of CO; equivalent per year — result fom fuel combustion, Overall fuel combustion accounts for approximately 88-39% of otal GHG emissions (Nitous oxide als rests from fue combustion ) Other GHG sources include clestricty distbution (SF); reigerant substitutes (HFC); the ‘management of municipal waste, municipal wastewater and agrcltre (CH, NiO); natal g95 Teakage (CH); and ote ‘This guide focuses on: ‘establishing the boundaries forthe assessment; ‘quantifying indirect and diet carbon dioxide (CO:) emissions from the projets ‘quantifying emissions from waste generation; ‘quantifying methane emissions from landfills; and providing & menu of mitigation options. For analysis of GHG sources other than CO; from combustion or waste, or methane from landfills ‘quantification methodalogy will be handled on a case-by-case basis through consultation between 8 project proponent, the lead agency, and involved agencies, Potential examples include methane ‘missions ftom wostewater treatment plants; emissions of hydrofluorocarbans and perfluorocasbons from the manufacturing, servicing and disposal of refrigeration and air concltioning equipment, and ether GHGs emitted through various chemical and manufacturing processes. In these eases, DEC staff will consult other established protocols for quantifying ‘emissions, such as: © Intergovenmertal Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2006) ‘© World Resources Insttute/World Business Couneil for Sustainable Development, Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard (2004) (©. US. EPA Climite Leaders, Inventory Guidance (2004) ‘The Climate Registry, General Reporting Protocol (2008) (© European Union, Monitoring and Reporting Guidelines for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (2006) "he New Vork Sate Ene Reser an Developer Autoriy periodically develops GHG inventories, Infation plod nh atdance ws taken rm he Dra New Yerk State Greenhouse Gas Emssions and Trends (1990-2005) ded Ber 2007, IQYSERDA‘s inventory acount forthe diferent global warming poems of each the GHGs abd eponts muston of each GH ay milon tos of CO; equals. Page ~ Daf Guide for Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in EISs, September 9, 2008