http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/17/us-usa-epa-emissions-idUSTRE72G67J20110317?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29

(Reuters) - The Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday it has extended the deadline for thousands of companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions to September 30.

The agency had said earlier this month it would move the deadline from March 31 to sometime later this summer.
It launched the program in 2009 to collect data on greenhouse gas pollution to inform future policy decisions.
The agency said earlier this month it will have a online electronic platform in place for companies to report their emissions.
"This extension will allow EPA to further test the system that facilities will use to submit data and give industry the opportunity to test the tool, provide feedback, and have sufficient time to become familiar with the tool prior to reporting," the agency said in a release.
Industry groups including the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, and the American Chemistry Council have praised the delay, saying it will lead to higher quality results in the data.