Partner Meeting
U.S. Climate Change Policy and Implications for Emissions of SF6

• Review of Meeting Objectives and Sessions, Sally Rand, EPA
• Welcome Remarks, Rita Stols, Vice President of Strategic and Support Services, ComEd

• US Policy Updates and Considerations for the Treatment of SF6, Stephen Seidel, Vice President for Policy Analysis, Pew Center on Global Climate Change (PDF) (32 pp., 556 KB)
• Update on EPA Climate Protection Rulemakings and Policies: Paul Gunning, Chief, Non-CO2 Programs Branch, Climate Change Division, EPA (PDF) (23 pp., 488 KB)
• Update on California SF6 Emission Reduction Measure, Dave Mehl, Manager and Sector Leader, Project Assessment Branch, Energy Sector, California Air Resources Board (PDF) (10 pp., 76 KB)

• Proposed SF6 Emission Reporting Requirements under the GHG Mandatory Reporting Rule, Debbie Ottinger, EPA (PDF) (20 pp., 292 KB)
• A Refresher on Calculating SF6 Emissions using the Mass-Balance Approach, Paul Stewart, ICF International (PDF) (17 pp., 536 KB)

This will be an open discussion focused on improving the quality of SF6 emissions estimates. Each Partner will come prepared to speak to the questions posed from EPA (see below). Following an opening by a moderator, a mediated group discussion will be held in the aim of having all Partners speak to and share ideas on improving SF6 emissions estimates.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the procedures taken by your company to input SF6 activities into an inventory tracking system (data entry frequency, data tracked, substation or corporate tracking)?
2. What software does your company use to maintain data on SF6? Who is in charge of inputting data into the system?
3. What method did you use to estimate total nameplate capacity?
4. How and where are cylinders stored? Are they measured after each use? If so, what methods and instruments are used to weigh cylinders? Does your company have a protocol for tracking cylinders?
5. What quality assurance/quality control procedures are taken to ensure all data inputs to the emissions reporting form are accurate (e.g., recordkeeping management and review of records, training of staff on inventory management)?
6. What have been the most difficult challenges in tracking SF6 activities by your company? What steps is your company taking to address these challenges?
7. What types of additional tools or training materials would improve your system?

• Climate Action Reserve Offsets Initiative for Industrial Gases and Role of Offset Registries under a Cap and Trade System, Gary Gero, President, Climate Action Reserve (PDF) (13 pp., 348 KB)
• Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: An Update on the SF6 Carbon Offset Project Category, Brian Jones, M.J. Bradley & Associates (PDF) (25 pp., 464 KB)

This will be an open discussion focused on best management practices and mitigation strategies for SF6 emission reductions. Each Partner will come prepared to speak to the questions posed from EPA (see below). Following an opening by the moderators, a mediated group discussion will be held in the aim of having all Partners speak to and share ideas on best management practices and mitigation strategies for SF6 emission reductions.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does your company ensure proper SF6 gas handling among field staff?
2. What are your company's decision criteria for repair versus replacement?
3. What techniques and sealants does your company use to address leak repair?
4. How does your company approach the challenge of receiving approval and funding for making expensive purchases for equipment repair and/or replacement?
5. What does your company consider as its best management practices for reducing SF6 emissions?
6. What emission reduction strategy has been the most challenging and/or least successful? Why?

This session will provide an opportunity for Partners to discuss scope of activities and resources they need from the EPA Partnership to help them make further emission reductions and improve emissions inventories.. Also an opportunity to provide feedback to EPA on future policies and measures discussed in Session 1.