S. 3928: Standardized Calculation of Operational Polluting Emissions Act of 2026

The bill titled the "Standardized Calculation of Operational Polluting Emissions Act of 2026," or SCOPE Act of 2026, mandates that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts a study and publishes guidance regarding the calculation and reporting of scope 3 emissions for direct emitters. Here’s what the bill entails, described in simpler terms:

Definitions

• Administrator: Refers to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Direct emitter: This includes:
  • Facilities that fall under specific categories regulated by federal regulations concerning greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Any other facility deemed appropriate by the Administrator.
• Greenhouse gas: Refers to pollutants that contribute to climate change, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and others as defined by law.
• Scope 3 emissions: These are indirect greenhouse gas emissions that arise from activities upstream and downstream of a company's operations, as defined by the Administrator.

Required Actions

Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Administrator is required to:

• Conduct a study on how to calculate and report scope 3 emissions for direct emitters.
• Publish guidance that includes the following:
  • Thresholds of scope 3 emissions that warrant reporting to the EPA.
  • Methodologies for calculating scope 3 emissions based on different types of sources.
  • Recommendations for how often businesses should monitor their scope 3 emissions.
  • Quality assurance and control measures for scope 3 emissions data.
  • Methods to estimate any missing data regarding scope 3 emissions.
  • Guidance on data recordkeeping and reporting practices for scope 3 emissions.

Authority Provisions

The bill includes a clause stating that it does not limit any existing authority held by the President, federal agencies, or states under current law. This ensures that the new guidance on scope 3 emissions operates within the framework of existing regulatory powers.

Relevant Companies