Paper Report Reduction

CROMERR Paper Report Reduction Federal Register Notice

On This Page:

• Summary
• Notice History
• Reporting Guidance
• Contact Information

Summary

On September 17, 2024, the Office or Air and Radiation signed the Cross-Media Electronic Reporting: Electronic Submission of Reports, Notifications, and Other Submission Types under 40 CFR Parts 59-63 notice. This notice allows all entities regulated by a subpart in 40 CFR parts 59-63 that have requirements to submit reports, notifications, or other types of submissions in paper format (and emailed reports in 40 CFR Part 60 Subparts AAA and QQQQ) to submit those reports, notifications, or other submission types in an acceptable digital format to the Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI), which is an electronic system maintained by OAQPS.

This notice does not require regulated entities to change the format or method of reporting currently used. Digital submission of reports, notifications, or other submission types covered by this notice is completely optional. EPA is providing this option because digital transmission of reports benefits regulated entities as well as EPA and delegated air agencies. Digital submission of reports also provides an environmental benefit and reduces the need for paper file storage.

Notice History

09/25/2024 - Cross-Media Electronic Reporting: Electronic Submission of Reports, Notifications, and Other Submission Types under 40 CFR Parts 59-63 Notice

Reporting Guidance

• Does this action mean that EPA is done implementing electronic reporting requirements in its NSPS and NESHAP rules?

No. While the digital submission of reports under this notice has many benefits to EPA, air agencies, and the regulated community, EPA plans to continue the transition to true e-reporting, which is different from digital submission.

• What is the difference between electronic (or digital) submission and electronic reporting?

Digital or electronic submission is submission of reports through an electronic, non-paper system. However, the system does not specify the form of the report and there are no templates or software needed to generate the report. Electronic reporting (or e-reporting) consists of electronic tools, such as software or templates, that guide regulated entities through the reporting process, often with built-in compliance assistance and data quality checks.

E-reporting provides additional benefits that digital submission does not provide. Regulated entities benefit from e-reporting through enhanced clarification on the data elements that are required to be submitted in notifications and reports. Standardizing report formats also allows air agencies and EPA to review reports and data more quickly and facilitates downloading and analyzing data in spreadsheet format, which can provide EPA information that can be used in future rulemakings.

• How does this action impact existing and future electronic reporting requirements?

Existing and future electronic reporting requirements supersede this allowance. If your regulation already has electronic reporting requirements, you must continue to follow the reporting provisions that are laid out within that specific regulation for the specific notification or report. If a subpart does not prescribe specific electronic reporting requirements for a notification or report, you may utilize this allowance.

Top of Page