Point Source Emissions Inventory

2023 EI Important Dates

Dec. 4, 2023

GECO 2023 Emission Inventory application opens

Feb. 5, 2024

CAERS reopens

June 30, 2024

2023 Emissions Inventory due

Submission Information

All your 2023 Emissions Inventory (EI) submission info is here.

  • Which Facilities Need to Submit Data for Calendar Year 2023?

    Facilities whose potential to emit (PTE) emissions equal or exceed the thresholds shown in the table below for any of the indicated pollutants are required to submit emissions. 2023 is a triennial year and will have lower thresholds than an annual year.

    Facilities identified by the Air Protection Branch (APB) as those that might need to participate in the 2023 EI will receive information about the process by email by the beginning of January. If you believe your facility is required to participate in the 2023 EI but did not receive an email, please send an email to [email protected] and include your facility name and AIRS ID.

    Calendar Year 2023 Potential Emission Thresholds for all facilities in Georgia

    Pollutant

    Triennial Year PTE Thresholds
    (tons per year)

    SO2

    ≥ 100

    VOC

    ≥ 100

    NOx

    ≥ 100

    CO

    ≥ 1000

    Pb

    0.5 (actual)

    Primary PM10

    ≥ 100

    Primary PM2.5

    ≥ 100

    NH3

    ≥ 100

  • When do facilities need to submit Data for Calendar Year 2023?

    Facilities need to opt out or submit their 2023 EI data by the deadline - June 30, 2024.

  • What is the Point Source Air Emissions Inventory?

    The Emission Inventory (EI) is required by federal regulation 40 CFR Part 51 Subpart A - Air Emissions Reporting Requirements (AERR) and requires that air emissions data be collected from certain facilities by all state agencies responsible for regulating air pollution. This is being conducted under the authority of Georgia Rule 391-3-1-.02(6)(b)1.

    The Point Source Air Emissions Inventory consists of two parts - the Facility Inventory and the Emission Inventory.

    • Facility Inventory (FI) - contains the emission units, release points, and process details that usually remain the same from year to year. The FI has been prepopulated with the most recently submitted facility information. If no FI updates, this step does not require any action.
    • Emission Inventory - contains process details, operating parameters, and emissions that usually change from year to year. In CAERS (read more about CAERS in the next section), the facility can download the most recent EI submission as their bulk uploading template or facility can use bulk entry to update throughput values and related emissions.
  • How is the Point Source Air Emissions Inventory Collected?

    For point sources, Georgia collects air emission inventory data using the Combined Air Emissions Reporting System (CAERS) which is an application developed by the EPA. Since 2019, emission inventory data is collected annually through CAERS instead of EPD’s former online application system of “Georgia Environmental Connections Online” (GECO).

  • How to Submit a Facility’s 2023 Emission Inventory

    The Point Source EI submission process includes three main action parts: 

    1. Update Facility and Contact Information via GECO using the EI form.
    2. Determine Facility Participation Status using the prompts in CAERS located in EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX)
    3. Submit and certify the facility’s opt-out form or submit the facility’s 2023 EI in CAERS.

    To begin the 2023 EI process, all facilities are required to log in to the GECO EI online form to review facility information and update preparer(s) and certifier contact information. Next, log in to CAERS via the EPA Central Data eXchange (CDX) website to determine facility participation in the 2023 EI. Prompts will aid with determining opt-in or opt-out status. If the facility's PTE does not meet or exceed any pollutant thresholds from January 1 to December 31, 2023, the facility can opt out of the 2023 EI with the required Triennial Year Opt-out Form. This form can be downloaded from GECO from the EI form, The 2023 EI Opt-out submission will need to be uploaded into CAERS prior to certification. If the facility did not operate from January 1 to December 31 of 2023, the opt-out form does not need to be submitted, but contact information still requires updates and prompts in CAERS must be answered.

  • What are CAERS Preparers and Certifier?

    There are two roles on the EPA CDX platform regardless of participation status.  The "preparer" role is for any individual that creates and prepares reports but cannot certify the submittal on behalf of the facility.  The "certifier" role is the representative of the facility that is authorized to submit an emissions report to the state of Georgia.

  • How do you determine PTE?

    Potential to emit is based on the latest PTE emissions that correspond with the latest permit that applies to the 2023 EI. To determine the PTE submitted, the following sources can be used:

Training Resources

Webinars and live virtual help sessions are available to help facilities with point source emissions inventory reporting and using CAERS.  For additional information regarding the training webinar and possible live virtual training, please visit https://geco.gaepd.org/EventRegistration/. If you have any questions regarding the 2023 EI or trouble accessing the GECO system or the EPA CDX platform, please contact [email protected].

Other Updates

Discontinuing Emission Statement Notice

Facilities whose NOx and/or VOC actual emissions are greater than 25 tons per year were required to submit an annual Emissions Statement in the past if they are in the following counties:

Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton.

As of June 19, 2023, Georgia Rule for Air Quality Control 391-3-1-.02(6)(a)4. was removed and as a result, facilities are no longer required to submit Emissions Statement (ES) data. The Emission Statement webpage is now removed from the Georgia EPD Air Protection Branch website. The ES application is also removed from GECO.