Q467. Can an offshore petroleum and natural gas production facility use current BOEM data, rather than the data from the most recently published OCS emissions inventory, for reporting emissions for the current reporting year?

Q467. Can an offshore petroleum and natural gas production facility use current BOEM (formerly BOEMRE) data, rather than the data from the most recently published OCS emissions inventory, for reporting emissions from an offshore petroleum and natural gas production facility for the current reporting year?

A467. For Reporting Year (RY) 2024 and earlier, BOEM typically publishes an OCS emissions inventory (formerly GOADS) study after March 31 of the year following the data collection. Therefore, for Subpart W, offshore reporters subject to reporting to BOEM's emissions inventory must use the latest BOEM published emissions inventory data. As a further clarification, the reporters will report under Subpart W using the BOEM methodologies published in 30 CFR 550.302 through 304 with the latest BOEM emissions inventory data. In subsequent years, reporters that do not report to BOEM's OCS emissions inventory will report using the BOEM methodologies published in 30 CFR 550.302 through 304, which historically have been published along with the OCS emissions inventory study.

For RY 2025 and later, 40 CFR 98.233(s)(1)(i) states that offshore petroleum and natural gas production facilities are to "report the same annual emissions calculated using the most recent monitoring and calculation methods published by BOEM as referenced in 30 CFR 550.302 through 304 for any reporting year that overlaps with a BOEM emissions inventory year and any other reporting year in which the BOEM’s emissions reporting system is available and the facility has the data needed to use BOEM’s emissions reporting system."

Note: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) replaced the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) in October 2011.  Additionally, BOEM has replaced the GOADS database with the Outer Continental Shelf Air Quality System (OCS AQS) beginning with its 2021 emissions inventory. The applicable regulatory citation is now 30 CFR 550.302 through 304 instead of 30 CFR 250.302 through 304.