Accurately tracking and reporting air emissions data over time provides facilities and stakeholders with detailed insight into opportunities for improvement. If data is not accurate, this limits the ability to understand a facility’s air emissions and identify the specific actions that will help reduce environmental impacts.
When establishing a air emission tracking and reporting program, the following principles should be applied:
- Completeness – The tracking and reporting program should include all relevant sources.
- Accuracy – Ensure that the data input into the air emissions tracking program is accurate and is derived from credible sources (e.g., emissions testing/monitoring or emissions calculations are based on established scientific measurement principles or established emissions estimation methodologies, etc.)
- Consistency – Use consistent methodologies to track air emissions data that allows for comparisons of emissions over time. If there are any changes in the tracking methods, sources, or other operations that impact air emissions data, this should be documented.
- Transparency – All data sources (e.g., testing reports), assumptions used (e.g., estimation techniques), and calculation methodologies should be disclosed in data inventories and be readily verifiable via documented records and supporting evidence.
- Data Quality Management – Quality assurance activities (internal or external) should be defined and performed on air emissions data as well as the processes used to collect and track data to ensure reported data is accurate.