[DEQ] Michigan Air Emissions Reporting System training available

Michigan Air Emissions Reporting System training available

Feb. 5, 2015

Beginning Feb. 10, the DEQ is hosting a series of workshops around the state to help companies and manufacturers required to report their emissions data online to MAERS, the Michigan Air Emissions Reporting System. Workshop participants will be taken step-by-step through the web-based system in an interactive, hands-on format. 

Emissions reporting is required by federal regulations under the Clean Air Act. In Michigan, about 1,600 facilities are required to report emissions data to MAERS, with more than 2,000 individuals using the system. This information is used to track air pollution trends, determine the effectiveness of current air pollution control programs, serve as a basis for future year projections of air quality, and provide information for permit review. Also, some facilities are required to pay air quality fees, which are calculated based on emissions reported to MAERS.

If a facility is required to submit a MAERS report, the DEQ’s Air Quality Division will notify the facility at least 45 days prior to the deadline in March. After companies submit their reports, AQD staff review the data to ensure it is correct and complete. If a facility is required to pay fees, AQD will notify them by July 1. The actual invoices are mailed the following January. 

By the end of each year, the AQD sends emissions data to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be added to the National Emissions Inventory. Michigan also maintains a publicly accessible database, the MAERS Web Query Utility. Anyone can use this online tool to search for air emissions data by city, county, company or other criteria. 

The DEQ has received many comments from MAERS users about the convenience of the online reporting system. More than 98 percent of facilities choose to report online, and that percentage is growing every year. Since MAERS saves information in the system from prior years, such as facility location and equipment identification numbers, companies save time by only entering new information and making updates. Also, MAERS auto-checks for blank fields, ensuring the submittal is complete.

Anyone who needs to learn how to report emissions information to MAERS is encouraged to register for one of the upcoming workshops. Additional MAERS guidance, workbooks and tutorials can be found on the DEQ MAERS webpage. 

For questions related to MAERS or the MAERS Web Query, please contact the Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278 or send an e-mail to INFOMAERS@michigan.gov.