42 U.S.C. § 13385 — National inventory and voluntary reporting of greenhouse gases

(a) National inventory: Within one year of October 24, 1992, the Secretary, through the Energy Information Administration, must build — using data the Administration already has or gets — an inventory of total U.S. emissions of each greenhouse gas for each year from 1987 through 1990 (the "baseline period"). The Energy Information Administration must update and analyze this inventory yearly, using available data. This subsection does not give the Administration any new power to collect data. (b) Voluntary reporting: (1) Issuance of guidelines: Within 18 months of October 24, 1992, the Secretary must, after public comment, issue guidelines for voluntarily collecting and reporting information on greenhouse gas sources. These guidelines must set up procedures for accurately, voluntarily reporting: (A) greenhouse gas emissions (i) for the 1987–1990 baseline period and (ii) for each year after that; (B) yearly cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon fixation (removing carbon from the air) achieved through steps like switching fuels, better forest management, tree planting, using renewable energy, making or using lower-emission vehicles, more efficient appliances and energy use, recovering methane, cogeneration, replacing chlorofluorocarbons, and improving power plant heat rates; (C) emission cuts from (i) voluntary reductions, (ii) plants or facilities closing, and (iii) state or federal requirements; and (D) each reporting entity's total greenhouse gas emissions. The guidelines must also account for how each greenhouse gas differs in how strongly it traps heat and how long it stays in the atmosphere. (2) Reporting procedures: The Energy Information Administration must create forms for this voluntary reporting and make them available to anyone who wants to report. Anyone reporting must certify that their information is accurate. (3) Confidentiality: Trade secrets and privileged or confidential commercial or financial information stay protected under section 552(b)(4) of title 5. (4) Establishment of data base: Within 18 months of October 24, 1992, the Secretary, through the Energy Information Administration, must build a database of this voluntarily reported information. Reporting entities may use this information to show they have achieved greenhouse gas reductions. (c) Consultation: In carrying out this section, the Secretary must consult with the EPA Administrator as appropriate.