The requirements regarding annual attest engagements in §§80.125 through 80.127, and 80.130, also apply to any attest engagement procedures required under this subpart M. In addition to any other applicable attest engagement procedures, such as the requirements in §§80.1465 and 80.1466, the following annual attest engagement procedures are required under this subpart.

(a) Obligated parties and exporters of renewable fuel. The following attest procedures shall be completed for any obligated party (as described at §80.1406(a)) or exporter of renewable fuel (as described at §80.1430):

(1) Annual compliance demonstration report.

(i) Obtain and read a copy of the annual compliance demonstration report required under §80.1451(a)(1) which contains information regarding all the following:

(A) The obligated party's volume of all products listed in §80.1407(c) and (e), or the exporter of renewable fuel's volume of each category of exported renewable fuel identified in §80.1430(b)(1) through (b)(4).

(B) RVOs.

(C) RINs used for compliance.

(ii) Obtain documentation of any volumes of renewable fuel used in products listed in §80.1407(c) and (e) at the refinery or import facility or exported during the reporting year; compute and report as a finding the total volumes of renewable fuel represented in these documents.

(iii) For obligated parties, compare the volumes of products listed in §80.1407(c), (e), and (f) reported to EPA in the report required under §80.1451(a)(1) with the volumes, excluding any renewable fuel volumes, contained in the inventory reconciliation analysis under §80.133 and the volume of non-renewable diesel produced or imported. Verify that the volumes reported to EPA agree with the volumes in the inventory reconciliation analysis and the volumes of non-renewable diesel produced or imported, and report as a finding any exception.

(iv) For exporters of renewable fuel, perform all of the following:

(A) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation that the exporter of renewable fuel maintains for all exported renewable fuel.

(B) Compare the volume of products identified in these documents with the volumes reported to EPA.

(C) Verify that the volumes reported to EPA agree with the volumes identified in the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation, and report as a finding any exception.

(D) Select sample batches in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127 from each separate category of renewable fuel exported and identified in §80.1451(a); obtain invoices, bills of lading and other documentation for the representative samples; state whether any of these documents refer to the exported fuel as advanced biofuel or cellulosic biofuel; and report as a finding whether or not the exporter of renewable fuel calculated an advanced biofuel or cellulosic biofuel RVO for these fuels pursuant to §80.1430(b)(1) or (3).

(v) Compute and report as a finding the RVOs for the obligated party or exporter of renewable fuel, and any deficit RVOs carried over from the previous year or carried into the subsequent year, and verify that the values agree with the values reported to EPA.

(vi) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation for all RINs by type of renewable fuel used for compliance during the year being reviewed; calculate the total number of RINs associated with each type of renewable fuel used for compliance by year of generation represented in these documents; state whether this information agrees with the report to EPA and report as a finding any exceptions.

(vii) For obligated parties that redesignate certified NTDF as MVNRLM diesel fuel under §80.1408, perform the additional attest engagement procedures described at §80.1475 and report any findings in the report described in paragraph (d) of this section. Parties that do not incur an RVO under §80.1408(a)(2)(i) and do not otherwise need to complete an attest engagement under this paragraph (a) do not need to arrange for the additional attest engagement procedures under §80.1475 to be performed.

(2) RIN transaction reports and product transfer documents.

(i) Obtain and read copies of a representative sample, selected in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127, of each RIN transaction type (RINs purchased, RINs sold, RINs retired, RINs separated, RINs reinstated) included in the RIN transaction reports required under §80.1451(a)(2) for the compliance year.

(ii) Obtain contracts, invoices, or other documentation for the representative samples of RIN transactions; compute the transaction types, transaction dates, and RINs traded; state whether the information agrees with the party's reports to EPA and report as a finding any exceptions.

(iii) Verify that the product transfer documents for the representative samples under paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section of RINs sold and the RINs purchased contain the applicable information required under §80.1453 and report as a finding any product transfer document that does not contain the required information.

(iv) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the product transfer documents reviewed pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section and report as a finding any exceptions.

(3) RIN activity reports.

(i) Obtain and read copies of all quarterly RIN activity reports required under §80.1451(a)(3) for the compliance year.

(ii) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation used to generate the information in the RIN activity reports; compare the RIN transaction samples reviewed under paragraph (a)(2) of this section with the corresponding entries in the database or spreadsheet and report as a finding any discrepancies; compute the total number of current-year and prior-year RINs owned at the start and end of each quarter, purchased, separated, sold, retired and reinstated, and for parties that reported RIN activity for RINs assigned to a volume of renewable fuel, the volume and type of renewable fuel (as defined in §80.1401) owned at the end of each quarter; as represented in these documents; and state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA.

(4) RIN holdings.

(i) Obtain and read copies of the RIN holdings calculations performed under §80.1435 for the party and any corporate affiliates and the applicable database, spreadsheet, or other documentation the party maintains.

(ii) Select sample calculations in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127; compute and report as a finding the results of these calculations and verify that the results agree with the values reported to EPA.

(iii) Identify any date(s) where the aggregated calculation exceeded the RIN holding threshold(s) specified in §80.1435. Compute and state as a finding whether this information agrees with the party's reports (notification of threshold exceedance) to EPA.

(5) Affiliates. Review reports and records related to corporate and contractual affiliates and state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA, and report as a finding any exceptions.

(6) Exemption. Review and confirm the existence of records supporting an exemption from aggregation claimed by the party under §80.1435(e), and report as a finding any exceptions.

(b) Renewable fuel producers and RIN-generating importers. The following attest procedures shall be completed for any RIN-generating renewable fuel producer or importer:

(1) RIN generation reports.

(i) Obtain and read copies of the reports required under §80.1451(b)(1), (e), and (d) for the compliance year.

(ii) Obtain production data for each renewable fuel batch by type of renewable fuel that was produced or imported during the year being reviewed; compute the RIN numbers, production dates, types, volumes of ethanol denaturant and applicable equivalence values, and production volumes for each batch; report the total RINs generated during the year being reviewed; and state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA. Report as a finding any exceptions.

(iii) Verify that the proper number of RINs were generated and assigned pursuant to the requirements of §80.1426 for each batch of renewable fuel produced or imported. For RINs generated for ethanol produced from corn starch at a facility using a pathway in Table 1 to §80.1426 that requires the use of one or more of the advanced technologies listed in Table 2 to §80.1426, verify that the required advanced technology or technologies were employed in accordance with the specifications in Tables 1 and 2 to §80.1426, including any requirement for application to 90% of the production on a calendar year basis.

(iv) Obtain product transfer documents for a representative sample, selected in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127, of renewable fuel batches produced or imported during the year being reviewed; verify that the product transfer documents contain the applicable information required under §80.1453; verify the accuracy of the information contained in the product transfer documents; report as a finding any product transfer document that does not contain the applicable information required under §80.1453.

(v)

(A) Obtain documentation, as required under §80.1451(b), (d), and (e) associated with feedstock purchases for a representative sample, selected in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127, of renewable fuel batches produced or imported during the year being reviewed.

(B) Verify that feedstocks were properly identified in the reports and met the definition of renewable biomass in §80.1401.

(2) RIN transaction reports and product transfer documents.

(i) Obtain and read copies of a representative sample, selected in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127, of each transaction type (RINs purchased, RINs sold, RINs retired, RINs separated, RINs reinstated) included in the RIN transaction reports required under §80.1451(b)(2) for the compliance year.

(ii) Obtain contracts, invoices, or other documentation for the representative samples of RIN transactions; compute the transaction types, transaction dates, and the RINs traded; state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA and report as a finding any exceptions.

(iii) Verify that the product transfer documents for the representative samples under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section of RINs sold and the RINs purchased contain the applicable information required under §80.1453 and report as a finding any product transfer document that does not contain the required information.

(iv) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the product transfer documents reviewed pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section and report as a finding any exceptions.

(3) RIN activity reports.

(i) Obtain and read copies of the quarterly RIN activity reports required under §80.1451(b)(3) for the compliance year.

(ii) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation used to generate the information in the RIN activity reports; compare the RIN transaction samples reviewed under paragraph (b)(2) of this section with the corresponding entries in the database or spreadsheet and report as a finding any discrepancies; report the total number of each RIN generated during each quarter and compute and report the total number of current-year and prior-year RINs owned at the start and end of each quarter, purchased, separated, sold, retired and reinstated, and for parties that reported RIN activity for RINs assigned to a volume of renewable fuel, the volume of renewable fuel owned at the end of each quarter, as represented in these documents; and state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA.

(4) Independent Third Party Engineering Review.

(i) Obtain documentation of independent third party engineering reviews required under §80.1450(b)(2).

(ii) Review and verify the written verification and records generated as part of the independent third party engineering review.

(5) RIN holdings.

(i) Obtain and read copies of the RIN holdings calculations performed under §80.1435 for the party and any corporate affiliates and the applicable database, spreadsheet, or other documentation the party maintains.

(ii) Select sample calculations in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127; compute and report as a finding the results of these calculations and verify that the results agree with the values reported to EPA.

(iii) Identify any date(s) where the aggregated calculation exceeded the RIN holding threshold(s) specified in §80.1435. Compute and state as a finding whether this information agrees with the party's reports (notification of threshold exceedance) to EPA.

(6) Affiliates. Review reports and records related to corporate and contractual affiliates and state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA, and report as a finding any exceptions.

(7) Exemption. Review and confirm the existence of records supporting an exemption from aggregation claimed by the party under §80.1435(e), and report as a finding any exceptions.

(c) Other parties owning RINs. The following attest procedures shall be completed for any party other than an obligated party or renewable fuel producer or importer that owns any RINs during a calendar year:

(1) RIN transaction reports and product transfer documents.

(i) Obtain and read copies of a representative sample, selected in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127, of each RIN transaction type (RINs purchased, RINs sold, RINs retired, RINs separated, RINs reinstated) included in the RIN transaction reports required under §80.1451(c)(1) for the compliance year.

(ii) Obtain contracts, invoices, or other documentation for the representative samples of RIN transactions; compute the transaction types, transaction dates, and the RINs traded; state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA and report as a finding any exceptions.

(iii) Verify that the product transfer documents for the representative samples under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section of RINs sold and RINs purchased contain the applicable information required under §80.1453 and report as a finding any product transfer document that does not contain the required information.

(iv) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the product transfer documents reviewed pursuant to paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section and report as a finding any exceptions.

(2) RIN activity reports.

(i) Obtain and read copies of the quarterly RIN activity reports required under §80.1451(c)(2) for the compliance year.

(ii) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation used to generate the information in the RIN activity reports; compare the RIN transaction samples reviewed under paragraph (c)(1) of this section with the corresponding entries in the database or spreadsheet and report as a finding any discrepancies; compute the total number of current-year and prior-year RINs owned at the start and end of each quarter, purchased, sold, retired, separated, and reinstated and for parties that reported RIN activity for RINs assigned to a volume of renewable fuel, the volume of renewable fuel owned at the end of each quarter, as represented in these documents; and state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA.

(3) RIN holdings.

(i) Obtain and read copies of the RIN holdings calculations performed under §80.1435 for the party and any corporate affiliates and the applicable database, spreadsheet, or other documentation the party maintains.

(ii) Select sample calculations in accordance with the guidelines in §80.127; compute and report as a finding the results of these calculations and verify that the results agree with the values reported to EPA.

(iii) Identify any date(s) where the aggregated calculation exceeded the RIN holding threshold(s) specified in §80.1435. Compute and state as a finding whether this information agrees with the party's reports (notification of threshold exceedance) to EPA.

(4) Affiliates. Review reports and records related to corporate and contractual affiliates and state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA, and report as a finding any exceptions.

(5) Exemption. Review and confirm the existence of records supporting an exemption from aggregation claimed by the party under §80.1435(e), and report as a finding any exceptions.

(d) For each compliance year, each party subject to the attest engagement requirements under this section shall cause the reports required under this section to be submitted to EPA by June 1 of the year following the compliance year, except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section.

(e) The party conducting the procedures under this section shall obtain a written representation from a company representative that the copies of the reports required under this section are complete and accurate copies of the reports filed with EPA.

(f) The party conducting the procedures under this section shall identify and report as a finding the commercial computer program used by the party to track the data required by the regulations in this subpart, if any.

(g)

(1) For obligated parties and exporters of renewable fuel, for the 2013 compliance year, reports required under this section shall be submitted to the EPA no later than June 1, 2016.

(2) For RIN-generating renewable fuel producers, RIN-generating importers of renewable fuel, and other parties owning RINs, for the 2013 compliance year, reports required under this section shall be submitted to the EPA no later than March 1, 2016 or 60 days from publication in the Federal Register of a final rule establishing 2014 RFS standards, whichever date is later.

(3) For obligated parties, for the 2014 compliance year, reports required under this section shall be submitted to the EPA no later than December 1, 2016.

(4) For exporters of renewable fuel, for the 2014 compliance period from January 1, 2014, through September 16, 2014, full reports for that period required under this section shall be submitted no later than June 1, 2016.

(5) For RIN-generating renewable fuel producers, RIN-generating importers of renewable fuel, and other parties owning RINs, for the 2014 compliance year, reports required under this section shall be submitted to the EPA no later than March 1, 2016 or 60 days from publication in the Federal Register of a final rule establishing 2014 RFS standards, whichever date is later.

(6) For obligated parties, for the 2015 compliance year, reports required under this section shall be submitted to the EPA no later than March 1, 2017.

(h) [Reserved]

(i) Independent third-party auditors. The following attest procedures shall be completed for any independent third-party auditor that implements a quality assurance plan in a calendar year:

(1) Comparing RIN verification reports with approved QAPs.

(i) Obtain and read copies of reports required under §80.1451(g)(1).

(ii) Obtain and read copies of any quality assurance plans approved under §80.1469.

(iii) Confirm that the independent third-party auditor only verified RINs covered by approved QAPs under §80.1469. Identify as a finding any discrepancies.

(2) Checking third-party auditor's RIN verification.

(i) Obtain and read copies of reports required under §80.1451(g)(2).

(ii) Obtain all notifications of potentially invalid RINs submitted to the EPA under §80.1474(b)(3).

(iii)

(A) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation used to generate the information in the RIN verification reports;

(B) Obtain all underlying documents that the QAP provider relied upon to verify the RINs;

(C) Review the documents that the QAP auditor relied on to prepare the reports obtained in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section, verify that the underlying documents appropriately reflect the information reported to the EPA, and identify as a finding any discrepancies between the underlying documents and the information in the RIN verification reports;

(D) Compute the total number of current-year RINs and current-year potentially invalid RINs verified at the start and end of each quarter, as represented in these documents; and state whether this information agrees with the party's reports to the EPA; and

(E) Verify that all parties were appropriately notified under §80.1474(b)(3) and report any missing notifications as a finding.

(3) Reporting requirements. For the 2014 compliance year, reports required under this paragraph (i) shall be submitted to the EPA no later than March 1, 2016 or 60 days from publication in the Federal Register of a final rule establishing 2014 RFS standards, whichever date is later. For the 2015 compliance year and each subsequent year, reports required under this paragraph (i) shall be submitted pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section.

[75 FR 14863, Mar. 26, 2010, as amended at 75 FR 26048, May 10, 2010; 75 FR 79978, Dec. 21, 2010; 77 FR 1357, Jan. 9, 2012; 78 FR 49830, Aug. 15, 2013; 79 FR 34244, June 16, 2014; 79 FR 23655, Apr. 28, 2014; 79 FR 42119, July 18, 2014; 79 FR 46356, Aug. 8, 2014; 80 FR 77518, Dec. 14, 2015; 84 FR 27024, June 10, 2019; 85 FR 7080, Feb. 6, 2020]