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New Greenhouse Gas Reporting Guidance for Farms and Forests

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday revised guidelines for the Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, known as 1605(b), that will enable farmers and land owners to estimate, report, and register greenhouse gas reductions and carbon sequestration.

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner says, "By participating in this program, our farmers and ranchers have a unique opportunity to be part of the solution to greenhouse gas emissions."

The new guidelines establish an accurate and transparent national registry where businesses and institutions can submit comprehensive reports on their greenhouse gas emissions, sequestration and reductions. Authorized under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, were substantially revised by DOE with help from USDA and now provide detailed instructions and to enhance the quality, consistency and credibility of the emission inventories and reductions being reported by businesses, land owners, and others.

The revised program guidelines were developed through an extensive interagency and multi-year public review process that included workshops, meetings and other opportunities to provide DOE with oral and written comment. These guidelines include state-of-the-science guidance and tools for estimating emissions from agricultural, forestry, and conservation activities important for carbon sequestration efforts. Provisions encourage participation in the program by small emitters of greenhouse gases, such as farmers and small businesses.

USDA is responsible for the forestry and agriculture sections of the guidelines and worked closely with the Department of Energy in their preparation and release. The new forest and agriculture guidelines, prepared by the Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service, address all of the major sources in agriculture and forestry. The guidelines offer farmers and ranchers a new on-line tool called COMET-VR which provides a simple and reliable method for estimating soil carbon sequestration. The technical guidelines for forests include a series of detailed carbon stock default tables with guidance on applying the tables for inventory purposes, direct measurement protocols, and guidance on the use of models.

Actions that farmers and landowners can consider reporting include using no-till agriculture, installing a waste digester, improving nutrient management, and managing forestland. The program provides opportunities for agriculture and forestry to partner with industry, in developing actions to reduce greenhouse gases by allowing them to document benefits of actions.

DOE's Energy Information Administration will administer this voluntary reporting program and will prepare and make available for public review the forms necessary to implement the revised guidelines during the 2007 reporting cycle.

For more information visit: www.usda.gov/oce/global_change/gg_reporting.htm or www.pi.energy.gov/enhancingGHGregistry/.