On September 14, 2023, the Government of Saskatchewan hosted a webinar to discuss the Upstream Oil and Gas OBPS 2023 Re-established baseline. The webinar discussed the changes to the OBPS regulation to include On-site transportation (OST), Flaring and Industrial Product Use (IPU) emissions and how those changes will affect 2023 compliance and baseline requirements.
Re-baselining Requirements:
- All emissions and production data not previously quantified (additional source categories) must be verified by a third party.
- It is expected that the site visit will also include equipment associated with any new source categories.
- Regulated emitters are required to submit an updated QMD to include additional information for any new production and emissions data.
- The baseline takes the initial baseline intensity and adds the new baseline including the additional source categories (Flaring, OST & IPU)
- Emitters may select different baseline years for new sources than the previously established baseline years for SFC emissions.
- Emitters must submit previously submitted SFC baseline data along with new source baseline data, but no changes to SFC data are required.
The key takeaways from the webinar are follows:
- Emitters will be responsible for submitting a baseline to include Flaring, OST and IPU emissions. Submitting a re-established baseline is optional, but if emitters do not submit an application, the government will not calculate it for them. The new sources will be included in 2023 compliance, so not submitting an application to include these sources in an emitters baseline may result in increased compliance obligations.
- Flaring, OST and/or IPU emissions baseline will be based on 3 consecutive years of data from 2018 to 2022. Emitters may choose the baseline years they feel are best representative. This does not have to be the same years as used for the previously submitted Stationary Fuel Combustion (SFC) baseline.
- Emitters are not required to re-establish SFC emissions baseline.
- Only data that has not previously been verified, will require verification.
- Submissions are due to OBPSENV@gov.sk.ca by December 1, 2023.
If you have questions about re-establishing a baseline for 2023, or would like our support, please reach out to your contact, or support@envirosoft.com.
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