Cecil County, Maryland
Greenhosue Gas Credits - Credit Audit and Verification
ARM’s preliminary evaluation is focusing on determining that basic eligibility requirements as set forth by the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) can be fulfilled by Cecil County to then complete verification services that will enable Cecil County to trade Greenhouse Gas (GHG) credits on the CCX.
ARM has visited the site to conduct an inspection. Among the items that ARM inspected include these:
- Documented ownership of the GHG credits
- Gas flow measurement equipment
- Methane concentration measurement instrument
- Calibration records
- Installation records
- Landfill data concerning capacity and/or Non-methane Organic Compound emissions and/or closure dates
To fully summarize the eligibility of Cecil County to participate in CCX programs, ARM is verifying the following information:
Flow Meters
The instruments and their installation must conform to appropriate flow meter protocols
The project must have the proper flow meter performance and maintenance records
The instrument maintenance and the inspection, cleaning, and flow verification of the instruments must be in accordance with CCX project protocols
Recordkeeping
ARM must confirm that the records of gas flows to the control device (i.e. type of flow meter, data and location of flow meter installation, dates and results of flow meter calibration, etc.) are retained and available for further potential audit.
Methane Concentration Measurements
The methane concentration measurement methods must conform to CCX protocols
The instrument calibration procedures must conform to CCX protocols
The frequency of recording of methane concentrations must conform to CCX protocols
ARM must also confirm the appropriate recordkeeping of methane concentration measurements (i.e. type of instrument, dates and results of calibration, dates and results of methane measurement, monthly tabulations of methane concentrations, records of third-party verification of methane measurements and procedures).