Point Source Emissions Inventory

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

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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:

• Permit and/or permit narrative
• Initial or renewal Title V applications
  • Prior to 2015
  • 2015 and afterwards
• Additional guidelines can be accessed here: Potential to Emit Guidelines. 

• 2023 Emissions Inventory GECO/CAERS Updates Training
• 2023 Emissions Inventory GECO/CAERS Updates Training Presentation
• 2023 Emissions Inventory Kickoff Training Questions & Answers
• GECO EI/CAERS Troubleshooting Flow Chart
• How to Complete the Opt-out Form

• CAERS User Guide V4
• Welcome to CAERS for New Reporters Training Video
• Welcome to CAERS for New Reporters Training Presentation
• CAERS User Interface Training Video
• CAERS Reporting Control Devices Training Presentation
• CAERS JSON Reference Data Spreadsheet

• HAPs Reporting in CAERS for the 2020 NEI with Q&A Presentation
• HAPs Reporting in CAERS for the 2020 NEI Training Recording(Enter Access Code: HBjX!I1J)