Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 95977 - Verification of GHG Emission Reductions and GHG Removal Enhancements from Offset Projects
(a)
General Requirements. An Offset Project Operator or Authorized Project Designee
must obtain the services of an ARB-accredited verification body for the
purposes of verifying Offset Project Data Reports submitted under this
article.
(b) Schedule for
Verification of Non-Sequestration Offset Projects. The verification of GHG
emission reductions for non-sequestration offset projects that produce greater
than or equal to 25,000 metric tons of GHG reductions must be performed on a
Reporting Period basis and cover the Reporting Period for which the most recent
Offset Project Data Report was submitted unless otherwise specified in a
Compliance Offset Protocol. For Reporting Periods in which an Offset Project
Data Report for a non-sequestration offset project shows that the offset
project produced fewer than 25,000 metric tons of GHG reductions in a Reporting
Period, the Offset Project Operator or Authorized Project Designee may choose
to perform verification that covers two consecutive Reporting Periods, even if
for the subsequent Reporting Period the offset project produced greater than or
equal to 25,000 metric tons of GHG reductions. If an Offset Project Data Report
results in zero GHG emission reductions, the Offset Project Operator or
Authorized Project Designee may defer verification until the offset project
produces an Offset Project Data Report that no longer results in zero GHG
emission reductions.
(c) Schedule
for Verification of Sequestration Offset Projects. An initial verification of
GHG emission reductions and GHG removal enhancements for all sequestration
offset projects must be performed following the first Reporting Period and
cover one Reporting Period. After the first Reporting Period, verification must
be conducted at least once every six years and may cover up to six Reporting
Periods for which Offset Project Data Reports were submitted. After an initial
verification with a Positive Offset Verification Statement, reforestation
offset projects and urban forest offset projects that meet the requirements of
the applicable Compliance Offset Protocol may defer the second verification for
twelve years, but verification of Offset Project Data Reports must be performed
at least once every six years thereafter. For offset projects that do not renew
their crediting period, verification must still be conducted at least once
every six years for the remainder of the project life. However, after a
successful full offset verification of an Offset Project Data Report indicating
that Actual Onsite Carbon Stocks (in MTCO2e) are at
least 10% greater than the Actual Onsite Carbon Stocks reported in the final
Offset Project Data Report of the final crediting period that received a
positive Offset Verification Statement, the next full offset verification
service may be deferred for twelve years. An offset project that has deferred
verification for twelve years must resume conducting a full verification at
least once every six years if it receives an Adverse Offset Verification
Statement.
(d) Timing for Submittal
of Offset Verification Statements to ARB or an Offset Project Registry. Any
Offset Verification Statement must be received by ARB or an Offset Project
Registry within eleven months after the conclusion of the Reporting Period for
which offset verification services were performed, except for Reporting Periods
for which verification is deferred in accordance with this section. If the
Offset Verification Statement is not submitted to ARB or an Offset Project
Registry by the verification deadline, the GHG reductions and GHG removal
enhancements quantified and reported in the Offset Project Data Report are not
eligible to be issued ARB offset credits or registry offset credits. The
verification body must issue one Offset Verification Statement for each Offset
Project Data Report that it verifies for the Offset Project Operator or
Authorized Project Designee.
Notes
2. Amendment of subsections (b)-(d) filed 6-26-2014; operative 7-1-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 26).
3. Amendment of subsections (b)-(d) filed 9-18-2017; operative 10-1-2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2017, No. 38).
Note: Authority cited: Sections 38510, 38560, 38562, 38570, 38571, 38580, 39600 and 39601, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 38530, 38560.5, 38564, 38565, 38570 and 39600, Health and Safety Code.
2. Amendment of subsections (b)-(d) filed 6-26-2014; operative
3. Amendment of subsections (b)-(d) filed 9-18-2017; operative
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