Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sequestration in the United States: Estimates for 2005–14
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Federal Lands Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sequestration in the United States: Estimates for 2005–14 Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5131 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. South Pass; Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California, and Pony Express National Historic Trails Corridor; Wyoming. Photograph by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management, September 16, 2010. Federal Lands Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sequestration in the United States: Estimates for 2005–14 By Matthew D. Merrill, Benjamin M. Sleeter, Philip A. Freeman, Jinxun Liu, Peter D. Warwick, and Bradley C. Reed Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5131 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior RYAN K. ZINKE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey James F. Reilly II, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2018 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747). For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Merrill, M.D., Sleeter, B.M., Freeman, P.A., Liu, J., Warwick, P.D., and Reed, B.C., 2018, Federal lands greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration in the United States—Estimates for 2005–14: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5131, 31 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185131. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii Acknowledgments The estimates of fossil fuel-associated emissions in this report were generated by methods that relied heavily on the work of others. Data repositories used and sources of guidance on the methodology are extensively cited in the text. Specific acknowledgements are necessary for contributors who aided the authors in the interpretation of published materials and provided instruction on making the estimates included here. The authors thank the following colleagues in the U.S. Department of the Interior: John Hovanec, Robert Kronebusch, and the Data Services team of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue; Holli Ensz of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; and the Bureau of Land Management. The authors also recognize Vincent Camobreco, Mausami Desai, Cate Hight, Christopher Sherry, and Melissa Weitz of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for assistance in utilizing their methodology, accessing data, and reviewing the manuscript. Thanks are also extended to Allan Kolker of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for a helpful review. The estimates of carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems were derived primarily through an analysis of modeling projects led by Zhiliang Zhu of the USGS. Specifically, we acknowledge Dave McGuire of the USGS and Hélène Genet of the University of Alaska Fairbanks for their work on modeling carbon fluxes in Alaska and Paul Selmants and Jason Sherba of the USGS and Christian Giardina of the U.S. Forest Service for their work in Hawaii. Furthermore, we thank Paul Selmants of the USGS and Tom Wirth of the EPA for their reviews. The project’s initial stages benefited greatly from the work of Robin O’Malley of the USGS, who organized numerous interagency meetings that lead to valuable data exchange and expertise assistance. v Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................iii Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Fossil Fuel-Associated Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Federal Lands ....................................3 Introduction............................................................................................................................................3 Data Sources .........................................................................................................................................3 Methodology ..........................................................................................................................................4 Introduction...................................................................................................................................4 Stationary Combustion Emissions .............................................................................................5 Mobile Combustion Emissions ...................................................................................................5 Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Emissions ....................................................................5 Active Coal Mine Emissions .......................................................................................................5 Abandoned Coal Mine Emissions .............................................................................................5 Exported Fuels Emissions ...........................................................................................................6 Results ....................................................................................................................................................6 Uncertainty of Emissions Estimates .........................................................................................8 Precision and Rounding of Emissions Estimates ....................................................................8 Terrestrial Ecosystems-Associated Carbon Emissions and Sequestration on Federal Lands ..................................................................................................................................10 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................10 Data Sources .......................................................................................................................................10 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................10 Conterminous United States ....................................................................................................11 Alaska ..........................................................................................................................................12 Hawaii ..........................................................................................................................................12 Results ..................................................................................................................................................12 Net Emissions and Sequestration Results ...............................................................................................17 Conclusions...................................................................................................................................................19 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................19 Glossary .........................................................................................................................................................22 Appendix 1. Detailed Methods: Fossil Fuel-Associated Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Federal Lands ............................................................................................................24 Appendix 2. Detailed Methods: Terrestrial Ecosystems-Associated Carbon Emissions and Sequestration on Federal Lands .......................................................................30 vi Figures 1. Map showing the onshore Federal lands (excluding American Indian and Tribal lands) and offshore Federal Outer Continental Shelf planning areas (offshore Pacific and offshore Gulf) included in the emissions and sequestration estimates ..............................................................................................................2 2. Pie chart showing carbon dioxide emissions associated with the extraction and combustion of fossil fuels produced from Federal lands in the 10 States or offshore regions with the highest emissions, 2014 ............................................................9 3. Pie chart showing methane emissions associated with the extraction and combustion of fossil fuels produced from Federal lands in the 10 States or offshore regions with the highest emissions, 2014 .................................................................9 4. Graph showing estimates of annual rates of net primary productivity, net ecosystems productivity, and net biome productivity for the conterminous United States, 1985–2015 ...........................................................................................................16 Tables 1. National totals and subtotals for several categories of greenhouse