(1) Purpose, Scope and Authority. The purpose of 310 CMR 7.73 is to assist the Commonwealth in achieving the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals adopted pursuant to M.G.L. c. 21N, § (3)(b) by reducing methane (CH4) emissions from natural gas distribution mains and services through the imposition of declining annual aggregate emission limits on certain sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the natural gas distribution pipeline sector in the Commonwealth. 310 CMR 7.73 is promulgated pursuant to M.G.L. c. 21N, § 3(d) and is also promulgated pursuant to M.G.L. c. 21A, §§ 2, 8 and 16, and M.G.L. c. 111, §§ 2C and 142A through 142E, to prevent and abate conditions of air pollution from the greenhouse gas emissions from the area sources specified in 310 CMR 7.73.
(2) Definitions. The terms used in 310 CMR 7.73 are defined in 310 CMR 7.73(2) and in 310 CMR 7.00: Definitions. Where a term is defined in 310 CMR 7.00: Definitions and 310 CMR 7.73 the definition in 310 CMR 7.73 shall apply.
Calendar Year means January
1st through December
31st.
Designated Representative means the
person who has been authorized by the gas operator to represent and legally
bind the owner or operator in matters pertaining to the 310 CMR 7.73.
Distribution Line means a pipeline
other than a gathering or transmission line.
Gas Operator means every Massachusetts
gas operator with a Gas System Enhancement Plan approved by the Massachusetts
Department of Public Utilities (DPU) pursuant to M.G.L. c. 164, § 145 as
of August 11, 2017.
Main means a distribution line that
serves as a common source of supply for more than one service.
Service means a distribution line that
transports gas from a common source of supply to an individual customer, to two
adjacent or adjoining residential or small commercial customers, or to multiple
residential or small commercial customers served through a meter header or
manifold. A service ends at the inlet of the customer meter or at the
connection to a customer's piping, whichever is further upstream, or at the
connection to customer piping if there is no meter.
(3) Applicability. Every Massachusetts gas operator.
(4) Annual CH4 Emission Limits.
(a)
Individual Operator Limits. For each calendar year
specified in 310 CMR 7.73(4)(a): Tables 1 through 6, each
named gas operator shall ensure that the annual CH4
emissions from all of its active mains and services, as calculated
pursuant to 310 CMR 7.73(5)(b)6., shall not exceed the following maximum
allowable annual CH4 emission limits
|
Table 1 - Maximum Annual CH4
Emission Limits - Boston Gas Company and Colonial Gas Company d/b/a National
Grid
|
|
Calendar Year
|
Maximum Allowable CH4
Emissions (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
|
|
2018
|
117,709
|
|
2019
|
113,372
|
|
2020
|
108,647
|
|
Table 2 - Maximum Annual CH4
Emission Limits - Bay State Gas Company d/b/a Columbia Gas of
Massachusetts
|
|
Calendar Year
|
Maximum Allowable CH4
Emissions (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
|
|
2018
|
28,800
|
|
2019
|
26,599
|
|
2020
|
24,399
|
|
Table 3 - Maximum Annual CH4
Emission Limits - The Berkshire Gas Company
|
|
Calendar Year
|
Maximum Allowable CH4
Emissions (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
|
|
2018
|
3,901
|
|
2019
|
3,683
|
|
2020
|
3,490
|
|
Table 4 - Maximum Annual CH4
Emission Limits - Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company d/b/a Unitil
|
|
Calendar Year
|
Maximum Allowable CH4
Emissions (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
|
|
2018
|
2,158
|
|
2019
|
2,064
|
|
2020
|
1,981
|
|
Table 5 - Maximum Annual CH4
Emission Limits - Liberty Utilities (New England Natural Gas Company) Corp
d/b/a Liberty Utilities
|
...
