Federal & State Regulations | Subpart C - Allowance Tracking System

§73.30 Allowance tracking system accounts.

(a) Nature and function of unit accounts. The Administrator will establish compliance accounts for all affected sources pursuant to §73.31(a) and (b). All allocations of allowances pursuant to subparts B, E, and F of this part and part 72 of this chapter, transfers of allowances made pursuant to subparts C and D, and deductions of allowances made for purposes of offsetting emissions pursuant to §73.35(b) and (d) and parts 72, 75, and 77 of this chapter will be recorded in the source's compliance account.

(b) Nature and function of general accounts. Transfers of allowances held for any person other than an affected source, made pursuant to subparts C, D, E, F, and G of this part will be recorded in that person's general account established pursuant to §73.31(c).

§73.31 Establishment of accounts.

(a) Existing affected units. The Administrator will establish a compliance account and allocate allowances for each source that includes a unit that is, or will become, an existing affected unit pursuant to sections 404(a) or 405 of the Act and §72.6 of this chapter.

(b) New units. Upon receipt of a complete certificate of representation for the designated representative for a new unit pursuant to part 72, subpart B of this chapter, the Administrator will establish a compliance account for the source that includes the unit, unless the source already has a compliance account.

(c) General accounts.(1) Any person may apply to open an Allowance Tracking System account for the purpose of holding and transferring allowances. Such application shall be submitted to the Administrator in a format to be specified by the Administrator by means of the Allowance Account Information Form, or by providing the following information in a similar format:

(i) Name and title of the authorized account representative and alternate authorized account representative (if any) pursuant to §73.33;

(ii) Mailing address, telephone number and facsimile transmission number (if any) of the authorized account representative and alternate authorized account representative (if any);

(iii) Organization or company name (if applicable) and type of organization (if applicable);

(iv) A list of all persons subject to a binding agreement for the authorized account representative to represent their ownership interest with respect to the allowances held in the general account and which shall be amended and resubmitted within 30 days following any transaction giving rise to any change of the list of persons subject to the binding agreement;

(v) A certification statement by the authorized account representative and alternate authorized account representative (if any) that reads “I certify that I was selected under the terms of an agreement that is binding on all persons who have an ownership interest with respect to allowances held in the general account. I certify that I have all necessary authority to carry out my duties and responsibilities on behalf of the persons with an ownership interest and that they shall be fully bound by my representations, actions, inactions, or submissions under 40 CFR part 73. I am authorized to make this submission on behalf of the persons with an ownership interest for whom this submission is made. I certify under penalty of law that I have personally examined and am familiar with the information submitted in this document and all its attachments. Based on my inquiry of those individuals with primary responsibility for obtaining the information, I certify that the information is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false material information, or omitting material information, including the possibility of fine or imprisonment for violations.”;

(vi) The signature of the authorized account representative and the alternate authorized account representative (if any); and

(vii) The date of the signature of the authorized account representative and the alternate authorized account representative (if any).

(2) Upon receipt of such complete application, the Administrator will establish an Allowance Tracking System account for the person or persons identified in the application.

(3) No allowance transfers will be recorded for a general account until the Administrator has established the new account.

(d) Account identification. The Administrator will assign a unique identifying number to each account established pursuant to this section.

[58 FR 3687, Jan. 11, 1993; 58 FR 40747, July 30, 1993, as amended at 71 FR 25378, Apr. 28, 2006; 70 FR 25335, May 12, 2005]

§73.32 [Reserved]

§73.33 Authorized account representative.

(a) Following the establishment of an Allowance Tracking System account, all matters pertaining to the account, including, but not limited to, the deduction and transfer of allowances in the account, shall be undertaken only by the authorized account representative.

(b)-(c) [Reserved]

(d) General account alternate authorized account representative. Any application for opening a general account may designate one alternate authorized account representative to act on behalf of the certifying authorized account representative, in the event the authorized account representative is absent or otherwise not available to perform actions and duties under this part. The alternate shall be a natural person and shall be authorized, provided that the conditions and procedures specified in §73.31(c)(1) are met.

(1) The alternate authorized account representative may be changed at any time by the authorized account representative upon receipt by the Administrator of a new complete application as required in §73.31(c);

(2) The alternate authorized account representative shall be subject to the provisions of this part applicable to authorized account representatives;

(3) Whenever the term “authorized account representative” is used in this part it shall be construed to include the alternate authorized account representative, unless such a construction would be illogical from the context; and

(4) Any representation, action, inaction, or submission by the alternate authorized account representative when acting in that capacity shall be deemed to be a representation, action, inaction, or submission of the authorized account representative, with all the rights, duties, and responsibilities pertaining thereto.

(e) Changes to the general account authorized account representative. An authorized account representative for a general account may be succeeded by any person who submits an application pursuant to §73.31(c). The representations, actions, inactions, or submissions of an authorized account representative for a general account shall be binding on any successor.

(f) Objections to the authorized account representative. Except for a certification pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section, no objection or other communication submitted to the Administrator concerning any representation, action, inaction, or submission to the Administrator by the authorized account representative shall affect any representation, action, inaction, or submission of the authorized account representative pursuant to subpart D of this part. Neither the United States, the Administrator, nor any permitting authority will adjudicate any dispute between and among persons concerning any submission to the Administrator by the authorized account representative; any actions of the authorized account representative; or any other matter arising directly or indirectly from the certification, actions or representations of the authorized account representative.

(g) Delegation by authorized account representative and alternate authorized account representative.(1) An authorized account representative may delegate, to one or more natural persons, his or her authority to make an electronic submission (in a format prescribed by the Administrator) to the Administrator provided for or required under this part.

(2) An alternate authorized account representative may delegate, to one or more natural persons, his or her authority to make an electronic submission (in a format prescribed by the Administrator) to the Administrator provided for or required under this part.

(3) In order to delegate authority to make an electronic submission to the Administrator in accordance with paragraph (g)(1) or (2) of this section, the authorized account representative or alternate authorized account representative, as appropriate, must submit to the Administrator a notice of delegation, in a format prescribed by the Administrator, that includes the following elements:

(i) The name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, and facsimile transmission number (if any) of such authorized account representative or alternate authorized account representative;

(ii) The name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, and, facsimile transmission number (if any) of each such natural person (referred to as an “agent”);

(iii) For each such natural person, a list of the type or types of electronic submissions under paragraph (g)(1) or (2) of this section for which authority is delegated to him or her;

(iv) The following certification statements by such authorized account representative or alternate authorized account representative:

(A) “I agree that any electronic submission to the Administrator that is by an agent identified in this notice of delegation and of a type listed for such agent in this notice of delegation and that is made when I am a authorized account representative or alternate authorized representative, as appropriate, and before this notice of delegation is superseded by another notice of delegation under 40 CFR 73.33(g)(4) shall be deemed to be an electronic submission by me.”

(B) “Until this notice of delegation is superseded by another notice of delegation under 40 CFR 73.33(g)(4), I agree to maintain an e-mail account and to notify the Administrator immediately of any change in my e-mail address unless all delegation of authority by me under 40 CFR 73.33(g) is eliminated.”

(4) A notice of delegation submitted under paragraph (g)(3) of this section shall be effective, with regard to the authorized account representative or alternate authorized account representative identified in such notice, upon receipt of such notice by the Administrator and until receipt by the Administrator of a superseding notice of delegation submitted by such authorized account representative or alternate authorized account representative, as appropriate. The superseding notice of delegation may replace any previously identified agent, add a new agent, or eliminate entirely any delegation of authority.

(5) Any electronic submission covered by the certification in paragraph (g)(3)(iv)(A) of this section and made in accordance with a notice of delegation effective under paragraph (g)(4) of this section shall be deemed to be an electronic submission by the designated representative or alternate designated representative submitting such notice of delegation.

[58 FR 3691, Jan. 11, 1993, as amended at 71 FR 25378, Apr. 28, 2006]

§73.34 Recordation in accounts.

(a) After a compliance account is established under §73.31(a) or (b), the Administrator will record in the compliance account any allowance allocated to any affected unit at the source for 30 years starting with the later of 1995 or the year in which the compliance account is established and any allowance allocated for 30 years starting with the later of 1995 or the year in which the compliance account is established and transferred to the source with the transfer submitted in accordance with §73.50. In 1996 and each year thereafter, after Administrator has completed the deductions pursuant to §73.35(b), the Administrator will record in the compliance account any allowance allocated to any affected unit at the source for the new 30th year (i.e., the year that is 30 years after the calendar year for which such deductions are made) and any allowance allocated for the new 30th year and transferred to the source with the transfer submitted in accordance with §73.50.

(b) After a general account is established under §73.31(c), the Administrator will record in the general account any allowance allocated for 30 years starting with the later of 1995 or the year in which the general account is established and transferred to the general account with the transfer submitted in accordance with §73.50. In 1996 and each year thereafter, after the Administrator has completed the deductions pursuant to §73.35(b), the Administrator will record in the general account any allowance allocated for the new 30th year (i.e., the year that is 30 years after the calendar year for which such deductions are made) and transferred to the general account with the transfer submitted in accordance with §73.50.

(1) All allowances allocated or deducted for the unit for the year pursuant to subpart B of this part;

(2) All allowances allocated or deducted pursuant to §§72.41, 72.42, 72.43, and 72.44 and part 74 of this chapter;

(3) All allowances allocated pursuant to subparts F and G of this part;

(4) All allowances recorded as a result of purchases or returns from the annual auctions;

(5) All allowances recorded or deducted as a result of allowance transfers recorded pursuant to subpart D of this part; and

(6) All allowances deducted or returned pursuant to §§73.35(d), 72.91 and 72.92, part 74, and part 77 of this chapter.

(d) Serial numbers for allocated allowances. Upon the allocation of allowances to an account, including allowances contained in reserves as provided in subpart B of this part, the Administrator will assign each allowance a unique identification number that will include digits identifying the allowance's compliance use date.

[58 FR 3691, Jan. 11, 1993, as amended at 60 FR 17114, Apr. 4, 1995; 63 FR 68404, Dec. 11, 1998; 70 FR 25335, May 12, 2005]

§73.35 Compliance.

(a) Allowance transfer deadline. No allowance shall be deducted for purposes of compliance with an affected source's sulfur dioxide Acid Rain emissions limitation requirements pursuant to title IV of the Act and paragraph (b) of this section unless:

(1) The compliance use date of the allowance is no later than the year in which the source's SO₂ emissions occurred; and

(2) The allowance is:

(i) Recorded in the source's compliance account; or

(ii) Transferred to the source's compliance account, with the transfer submitted correctly pursuant to subpart D of this part for recordation in the source's compliance account by not later than the allowance transfer deadline in the calendar year following the year for which compliance is being established; and

(3) The allowance was not previously deducted by the Administrator in accordance with a State SO₂ mass emissions reduction program under §51.124(o) of this chapter or otherwise permanently retired in accordance with §51.124(p) of this chapter.

(b) Deductions for compliance.(1) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, following the recordation of transfers submitted correctly for recordation in the compliance account pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section and subpart D of this part, the Administrator will deduct allowances available for deduction under paragraph (a) of this section from each affected source's compliance account in accordance with the allowance deduction formula in §72.95 of this chapter, or, for opt-in sources, the allowance deduction formula in §74.49 of this chapter, and any correction made under §72.96 of this chapter.

(2) The Administrator will make deductions until either the number of allowances deducted is equal to the amount calculated in accordance with §72.95 of this chapter, or, for opt-in sources, in accordance with §74.49 of this chapter, as modified under §72.96 of this chapter or until no more allowances available for deduction under paragraph (a) of this section remain in the compliance account.

(c)(1) Identification of allowances by serial number. The authorized account representative for a source's compliance account may request that specific allowances, identified by serial number, in the compliance account be deducted for a calendar year in accordance with paragraph (b) or (d) of this section. Such request shall be submitted to the Administrator by the allowance transfer deadline for the year and include, in a format prescribed by the Administrator, the identification of the source and the appropriate serial numbers.

(2) First-in, first-out. In the absence of an identification or in the case of a partial identification of allowances by serial number, as provided for in paragraph (b)(1) or (d) of this section, the Administrator will deduct allowances on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) accounting basis beginning with those allowances with the earliest compliance use date originally allocated for the units at the source and recorded in the source's compliance account. Following the deduction of all originally allocated allowances from the compliance account, the Administrator will deduct those allowances that were transferred and recorded in the source's compliance account pursuant to subpart D of this part, beginning with those with the earliest date of recordation.

(d) Deductions for excess emissions. Pursuant to §77.4 of this chapter, and following the process of recordation set forth in §73.34(a) of this part, the Administrator will deduct allowances for each source with excess emissions for the preceding calendar year in an amount equal to the source's excess emissions tonnage.

[58 FR 3691, Jan. 11, 1993, as amended at 60 FR 17114, Apr. 4, 1995; 64 FR 25842, May 13, 1999; 70 FR 25335, May 12, 2005]

§73.36 Banking.

(a) Compliance accounts. Any allowance in a compliance account not deducted pursuant to §73.35 will remain in the compliance account.

(b) General accounts. In the case of a general account, any allowances in the general account not transferred pursuant to subpart D to another Allowance Tracking System account will remain in the general account.

[58 FR 3691, Jan. 11, 1993, as amended at 70 FR 25336, May 12, 2005]

§73.37 Account error.

The Administrator may, at his or her sole discretion and on his or her own motion, correct any error in any Allowance Tracking System account. Within 10 business days of making such correction, the Administrator will notify the authorized account representative for the account.

[70 FR 25336, May 12, 2005]

§73.38 Closing of accounts.

(a) General account. The authorized account representative of a general account may instruct the Administrator to close the general account by submitting an allowance transfer, pursuant to §73.50 and §73.52, requesting the transfer of all allowances held in the account to one or more other accounts in the Allowance Tracking System, and by submitting in writing, with the signature of the authorized account representative, a request to close the general account.

(b) Inactive accounts. If a general account shows no activity for a 12-month period or longer and does not contain any allowances, the Administrator may notify the account's authorized account representative that the account will be closed following 20 business days from the date the notice is sent. The account will be closed following the 20-day period, unless the Administrator receives and records a request for the transfer of allowances into the account pursuant to §73.52 before the end of the 20-day period, or the authorized account representative submits, in writing, demonstration of good cause as to why the inactive account should not be closed.