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Regulations & Permits > Rulemaking > WAC 173-446

Chapter 173-446 WAC

On September 29, 2022, Ecology adopted a new rule, Chapter 173-446 WAC, Climate Commitment Act Program. The Climate Commitment Act requires Ecology to adopt rules to implement the cap-and-invest program to achieve Washington's goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

This rulemaking establishes a structure to cap greenhouse gas emissions and implement an allowance trading market. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Program coverage, registration, and account requirements
  • Methods and procedures for allocating allowances
  • Allowance budgets for the first compliance period (2023–2026) and distribution of allowances
  • Auction registration requirements
  • Auction floor and ceiling prices, and Tier I and Tier II prices for allowance price containment reserve auctions
  • Emissions containment reserve
  • Procedures and protocols for offset projects
  • Enforcement provisions
  • Transfer and sale of allowances and recognition of compliance instruments
  • Other elements to support the operation and function of the cap-and-invest program

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Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
Aug. 4, 2021


Announcement documents

Rule development phase

August 4, 2021 – May 15, 2022



Public input & involvement

Public comment period (informal) – EXTENDED
November 8, 2021 – January 26, 2022 (originally January 18, 2022)

Read others' comments.
 

Ecology's meetings with stakeholders

Date Documents Location
Monday
November 8, 2021
10 a.m. – noon		 Agenda
Presentation
Draft rule language

webinar1

Thursday
December 16, 2021
8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

 Allowance budgets
and distribution:
Agenda
Presentation
Draft rule language		 webinar1

Thursday
December 16, 2021
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

 Offsets:
Agenda
Presentation
Draft rule language		 webinar1
Tuesday
January 11, 2022
1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.		 Agenda
Presentation
Draft implementation dates
Draft rule language		 webinar1


1 Webinar information:
   Register for each webinar to get your meeting ID, passcode, and call-in phone number.

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
May 16, 2022

Rule proposal documents:

Related documents:

Continuance filing (CR-102)

Filing date:
June 3, 2022

Continuance documents:
Ecology combined two separate notifications in the continuance:  Extension of the public comment period and availability of a Revised Preliminary Regulatory Analyses.

Comment period

Comments were due by July 15, 2022 (originally June 30, 2022). We accepted comments in the following ways:

  • Comment online. Read comments.

  • Attend a public hearing online (detailed information below):
    June 21, 2022 at 10 a.m.
    June 22, 2022 at 6 p.m.
    June 27, 2022 at 1 p.m.
    June 28, 2022 at 10 a.m.
     
  • Mail to:  Joshua Grice
    Department of Ecology
    Air Quality Program
    P.O. Box 47600
    Olympia, WA  98504-7600

Public hearings

Date/Time:  June 21, 2022 at 10 a.m. online webinar
                     June 22, 2022 at 6 p.m online webinar
                     June 27, 2022 at 1 p.m. online webinar
                     June 28, 2022 at 10 a.m. online webinar

Location:  online (webinar)
    Register for each webinar to get your meeting ID and passcode.
    To hear the webinar better or to call in only, use your phone (instead of the computer) to call 253-215-8782.

Agenda: Presentation, question-and-answer session, followed by public hearing

Accessibility:  To request ADA accommodation for the public hearing, email Ecology’s ADA coordinator by June 16, 2022.  Or call (360) 407-6831, 711 (relay service), or 877-833-6341 (TTY).

Rule adoption phase (CR-103)

Adoption date:
Sept. 29, 2022


Rule effective date:
Oct. 30, 2022


Rule implementation information:

Additional languages

Español (Spanish) 中文 (Chinese) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 한국어 (Korean)

Related links

Contact information

Joshua Grice
Rulemaking Lead
​ecyreclimaterules@ecy.wa.gov
360-280-6566

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Accessibility

To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact Ecology's ADA Coordinator by email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6831. People with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.