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Guidance for Emitters

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1. Emitters Subject to The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Baselines, Returns and Verification) Standard

Registration

All emitters subject to The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Standards and Compliance) Regulations (the Regulations) are required to register their regulated facilities with the Ministry of Environment. Please refer to the Regulations to determine if a facility is considered a regulated facility and required to register.

To complete the registration process, emitters must submit a registration form for each facility that is subject to the Regulations. The user guide will assist in completing the registration form.

Baseline Submissions

In accordance with the Regulations, all regulated emitters must establish a baseline emissions intensity for each regulated facility. A facility must be registered prior to establishing a baseline emissions intensity for that facility.

The guidance document will assist in completion of the baseline submission form. Each baseline submission requires an accompanying Quantification Methodology Document and verification report, completed using the provided templates. See the Templates and Tools section for these additional resources.

Emissions Return Submissions

In accordance with the Regulations, all regulated emitters must submit an emissions return per regulated facility for each compliance year as established in Appendix A of The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Baselines, Returns and Verification) Standard (the Standard). A facility must be registered and establish a baseline emissions intensity prior to completing an emissions return for that facility.

Each emissions return submission requires an accompanying Quantification Methodology Document and verification report, completed using the provided templates. See the Templates and Tools section for these additional resources.

Templates and Tools

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2. Emitters Subject to The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Upstream Oil and Gas Aggregate Facility) Standard

Aggregate Registration

An operator who intends to register an aggregate facility under The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Standards and Compliance) Regulations (the Regulations) may submit a notice of intent (NOI) for aggregate facility registration to the Ministry of Environment. Please refer to The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Upstream Oil and Gas Aggregate Facility) Standard (the Standard) to determine if the aggregate facility qualifies for registration.

To register an aggregate facility in the upstream oil and gas sector, please follow the detailed instructions in the guidance document.

Aggregate Baseline Submissions

In accordance with the Regulations, all regulated emitters must establish a baseline emissions intensity for each regulated facility. An aggregate facility must be registered prior to establishing a baseline emissions intensity for that facility.

The guidance document will assist in the completion of the baseline submission form. Each baseline submission requires an accompanying Quantification Methodology Document and verification report, completed using the provided templates. See the Aggregate Templates and Tools section for these additional resources.

Aggregate Emissions Return Submissions

In accordance with the Regulations, all regulated emitters must submit an emissions return per regulated aggregate facility for each compliance year as established in Appendix C of the Standard. An aggregate facility must be registered and establish a baseline emissions intensity prior to completing an emissions return for that facility.

Each emissions return submission requires an accompanying Quantification Methodology Document and verification report, completed using the provided templates. See the Aggregate Templates and Tools section for these additional resources.

Aggregate Composition Updates

The aggregate facilities monthly composition form is for use by registered aggregate facilities that are subject to Part 3 of the Standard. Submit the completed form along with any attachments to OBPSENV@gov.sk.ca.

The aggregate facilities quarterly composition form is for use by registered aggregate facilities that are subject to Part 2 of the Standard. Submit the completed form along with any attachments to OBPSENV@gov.sk.ca.

Aggregate Templates and Tools

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3. Compliance Obligations and Compliance Options

Under Section 16 of The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Standards and Compliance) Regulations, if the total regulated emissions by a regulated facility exceed the permitted levels during a compliance year, the regulated emitter incurs a compliance obligation.

The guidance document provides regulated emitters with an explanation of the compliance obligation and performance credit calculations and guidance to estimate the compliance obligation owed and, if applicable, the amount of performance credits earned by a regulated facility in a compliance year.


Compliance Return

If total regulated emissions exceed what is permitted in a compliance year, regulated emitters must complete a compliance return form. Use the compliance return form and accompanying compliance return guidance document to inform the ministry about how your organization intends to fulfill its compliance obligations before the applicable deadline. Regulated emitters who choose to fulfil a compliance obligation in whole or in part by paying into the Saskatchewan Technology Fund must submit the compliance return form at least five (5) business days prior to payment being made.


Performance Credits

The Ministry of Environment uses the performance credit transaction form to track the purchase of performance credits between regulated emitters. If you intend to use purchased performance credits to fulfill a compliance obligation, you must submit the relevant performance credit transaction form before the compliance return form is submitted to the Ministry of Environment.


Saskatchewan Technology Fund

The Saskatchewan Technology Fund is a made-in-Saskatchewan compliance option for regulated emitters under Saskatchewan's Output-Based Performance Standards Program. The competitive, application-based fund will support transformative technologies and innovations that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining industry competitiveness and continued economic growth and prosperity.

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4. Program Deadlines

Under Section 18 (1b) and Section 22 (2b) of The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Standards and Compliance) Regulations, the Minister may adjust or extend compliance obligation dates and compliance return dates for industrial facilities that are subject to the province’s output-based performance standards (OBPS) program, provided that an alternative date is requested by regulated emitters. The Minister may approve such an extension where he or she is satisfied that such a request is appropriate.

Given this authority, and responding to industry requests for compliance extensions, I wish to inform you of the following changes to compliance return and compliance obligation deadlines:

Large Emitters

  • The large emitter deadline for 2019 compliance returns and fulfilment of compliance obligations (previously extended from October 31, 2021 to December 31, 2021 and communicated by the Ministry of Environment to regulated emitters on May 7, 2021) is now extended to February 28 2023.
  • The large emitter deadline for 2020 compliance returns and fulfilment of compliance obligations, which the Ministry of Environment indicated on May 7, 2021 would be extended from October 31, 2021 to sometime in 2022, is also extended to February 28, 2023.

Aggregate Facilities

  • For aggregate facilities with emissions of 10,000 tonnes CO2e or greater, the deadlines for both 2019 and 2020 compliance returns and fulfilment of compliance obligations are extended to February 28, 2023.
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5. Webinar: Proposed amendments to Saskatchewan’s Output-Based Performance Standards Program for 2023

On January 19, 2023, the Ministry of Environment hosted a webinar to provide an overview of the draft amended regulations and standards for Saskatchewan’s Output-Based Performance Standards Program, which would come into effect retroactive to January 1, 2023.

View the webinar presentation

Should you require additional information, please contact the Ministry of Environment via prairie.resilience@gov.sk.ca.

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