PRTR initiation - Developing a PRTR proposal

A “National PRTR Proposal” articulates specifications for all aspects of a PRTR, including legal implications, technical design, institutional and administrative responsibilities, and national implementation of the PRTR system.

The PRTR Proposal embodies the lessons learned from the PRTR Pilot, and includes adjustments and modifications that address the lessons learned. The proposal is a tool for communicating the design of the national PRTR system and for obtaining approval for a PRTR from national decision makers. A PRTR proposal should be structured to include the following sections:

  • Introduction;
  • Objectives of the National PRTR System;
  • Legal Implementation of the National PRTR System;
  • Reporting Requirements and Procedures for Point Sources of Emissions;
  • Treatment of Non-Point and Non-Reporting Point Sources of Emissions;
  • PRTR Data Management System;
  • Administration of the National PRTR System;
  • National Implementation Work Plan;
  • Review Procedures; and
  • Recommendations for Further Development of the PRTR System.

To develop a PRTR that is harmonised with other PRTR systems, your country may consider including specifications relevant to harmonisation within the National PRTR Proposal. Examples of the types of specifications relevant to harmonisation that might be included within a National PRTR Proposal are:

Section of National PRTR ProposalSpecifications Relevant to Harmonisation

Objectives of the national PRTR SystemHarmonisation goals

Reporting requirements and procedures for point sources of emissionsDesign decisions for collecting harmonised data for point sources

Treatment of non-point and non-reporting point sources of emissionsDesign decisions for collecting harmonised data for non-point sources

Administration of the national PRTR systemDisseminating PRTR data for use in global scale analyses

Recommendations for further development of the PRTR systemImproving harmonisation of PRTR data through future enhancements to the PRTR

For a cost-effective management scheme, you may wish to implement the next element (Preparing a Legal Instrument) or choose another element from the Management scheme elements list.


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