PRTR initiation - Designing a PRTR
This section describes the key elements in designing a PRTR system. These elements are listed in the left-hand box and include:
- Reporting Unit: Defining the types of sources covered by the PRTR.
- Sectors: Defining the industrial activities covered by the PRTR.
- Chemicals: Defining the pollutants covered by the PRTR.
- Reporting Thresholds: Defining the thresholds that determine which facilities must report each chemical.
- Data Elements: Determining what information will be reported to the PRTR.
- Reporting Period: Defining how frequently data are reported and what time period each report will cover.
- Mandatory vs. Voluntary Reporting: Determining whether covered facilities will be legally required to report to the PRTR.
- Exemptions: Determining whether any types of facilities, activities, etc., will be exempt from PRTR reporting.
For a cost-effective management scheme, you may wish to implement the next sub-element (Reporting Unit) or choose another element from the Management scheme elements list.
Relevant tools
Below is a list of tools relevant for implementing this topic :
- OECD: Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs): A Tool for Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development - Guidance Manual for Governments (1996)
- OECD: Guidance on Elements of a PRTR: Part I (2014)
- UNITAR and IOMC: Implementing a National PRTR Design Project: A Guidance Document (1997)
- UNITAR and IOMC: Designing the Key Features of a National PRTR System, UNITAR Guidance Series for Implementing a National PRTR Design Project, Supplement 2 (1997)
- OECD: Recommendation of the Council on Implementing Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers1996 (2003)
- UNITAR, UNEP, and GEF: Final Meeting of the Steering Committee for the GEF Medium-sized project on “POPs Monitoring, Reporting and Information Dissemination using Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)” (2012)