Quebec Proposes Legislation To Broaden Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Requirements

On June 2, 2010, Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks announced that it has published, for a 60-day public consultation, amendments to the Regulation Respecting Mandatory Reporting of Certain Emissions of Contaminants into the Atmosphere (the Regulation). The amendments are meant to harmonize the Regulation with the common policies adopted by the members of the Western Climate Initiative (the WCI). The partners of the WCI are comprised of 7 U.S. states, including California, and four Canadian provinces, namely British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

The current Regulation sets the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting threshold at 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per year. The amended Regulation would lower the threshold and require reports be provided by Quebec enterprises that have emissions of 10,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year or more. If enacted, the amended Regulation would also prescribe the methods