Monitoring plan

Monitoring Plans for this methodology shall include, but are not limited to, tracking of the following information by Project Developers. The Project Developer is the party responsible for adhering to the Monitoring Plan.

Monitoring requirements for all reporting periods

When no successive spreading events occur, and all information related to spreading was reported and audited in previous reporting periods, Project Developers only monitor ongoing CDR, ESDNH risks, and (optional) co-benefits related to the ongoing weathering of the previously spread feedstock.

For all projects:

• Ex-post Sampling procedure of all NFZ measurements listed below

• Measurement and extraction methods used for all NFZ measurements listed below

• Description of induced emissions allocated to the reporting period, and remaining to be allocated

• Description of amount of initially estimated CDR loss in the FFZ allocated to the reporting period, and remaining to be allocated

• Description of statistical methods used to asses uncertainty, and approach for choosing final values from measurements

• Measurements of heavy metal content in soils and biomass grown where rock was spread, and soil organic carbon, at least once after rock spreading during the crediting period (ESDNH criteria)

• Changes in crop yield between treatment and control plots, at least once after rock spreading during the crediting period (Leakage criteria)

For projects using NFZ Method 1: Direct measurement of export:

• Measured chosen indicator of direct alkalinity export (carbonate system parameters and/or major ion) for direct measurement of export

• Final adjustments accounting for organic alkalinity, carbonic acid system speciation, and non-carbonic acid weathering, if applicable

• CDR calculations based on this indicator measurement

For projects using NFZ Method 2: Mass balance:

• Feedstock dissolution

  • Concentration of immobile tracer and base cation/s (solid phase required, aqueous phase optional)

  • Feedstock application rate

  • Calculated potential CDR gain

• Biomass uptake

  • Measured concentration of base cation/s in biomass

  • Total biomass removed (annual crops) or new growth (perennial crops)

  • Actual measurement method used

  • Calculated potential CDR loss

• Inefficient conversion of alkalinity to CDR

  • pH-dependent speciation

    • If porewater measurements, measured water volume infiltrated through NFZ soil and two carbonate system parameters results

    • If conservative deduction, measured source and amount of strong acid addition to or production in the NFZ

  • Non-carbonic acid weathering

    • If porewater measurements, measured water volume infiltrated through NFZ soil and anion concentration results

    • If nitric acid simplification, proof that that nitric acid from nitrification is the main source of non-carbonic acid weathering, and proven amount of ammonia fertilizer applied

  • Acid buffering: measured bound acidity in the NFZ

  • Calculated potential CDR loss

• Base cation sorption

  • Base cations measured

  • Base saturation and CEC at the beginning and end of the reporting period

  • Calculated change in CDR from adsorption/desorption of base cations

• Carbonate precipitation

  • Choice whether to measure CDR increase in the NFZ from secondary carbonate formation.

  • If no, no further requirements.

  • If yes, the following are required:

    • ex-post sampling procedure

      • Newly formed SIC concentration at beginning and end of reporting period in treatment and control plots

      • calculated change in CDR from secondary carbonate precipitation

Monitoring requirements for successive spreading event on same site, same feedstock batch

The following monitoring requirements shall be applied if the project performs new spreading events, on the same sites where feedstock was previously spread, with the same (i.e. if the feedstock was stored and covered at the project operations site between spreading events).

• All points listed in the Monitoring requirements for all reporting periods section

• Feedstock application rate

• Moisture content measurements of feedstock just before spreading, and ex-post sampling description

• Updated maximum potential CDR and modeled CDR estimates for the newly spread feedstock, plus updated total project CDR estimates

• Proof of adherence to ESDNH requirements:

  • meet national and local regulations for pollutant levels and fertilizer limits

  • provide safety protocols required for feedstock application

  • model heavy metal dissolution in the environment, corresponding to heavy metal from newly spread feedstock

  • notify local stakeholders if adverse local environmental impacts are expected following application.

  • describe any potential downstream sensitive ecosystems, and plans to monitor for negative impacts resulting from rock spreading (e.g. pH shifts, contamination...).

• Updated induced emissions

  • Energy amount and type for feedstock extraction

  • Energy amount and type for feedstock processing

  • Transport data, using the Distance based, Energy amount or Energy efficiency data inputs from the BiCRS Transport module

  • Amount and type of other input/emissions not mentioned above

  • Description of how allocation of induced emissions and of FFZ loss will be updated to reflect updated CDR estimates

• Updated FFZ loss estimates

  • Updated calculations of CDR loss in the FFZ, corresponding to the amount of newly spread feedstock

  • Description of how allocation of FFZ loss will be updated to reflect updated CDR estimates

Monitoring requirements for successive spreading event with new site

The following monitoring requirements shall be applied if the project performs new spreading events, on new sites that are not already within the sites outlined in the site characterization report, with the same (i.e. if the feedstock was stored and covered at the project operations site between spreading events):

• all points listed in the Monitoring requirements for all reporting periods section

• all points listed in the Monitoring requirements for successive spreading event on same site, same feedstock batch section

• Site Characterization Report for the new site

• If it is a new extrapolated site, proof that the strata type is eligible for extrapolation, and that the new site falls within the eligible strata's characteristics

• An overview of the new total project area, including the newly added sites, with maps and updated strata descriptions

• Signed contract with the owner of land where rock is spread, agreeing the landowner will not also issue carbon credits (No double counting criteria)

Monitoring requirements for successive spreading event with new feedstock batch

The following monitoring requirements shall be applied if the project performs new spreading events, on the same sites where feedstock was previously spread, with a new :

• all points listed in the Monitoring requirements for all reporting periods section

• all points listed in the Monitoring requirements for successive spreading event on same site, same feedstock batch section

• Feedstock characterization report with the following elements:

  • qualitative description of feedstock

  • feedstock CDR and ESDNH measurement results

  • CDR estimates, and

  • the feedstock sampling protocol

• Proof of adherence to ESDNH requirements

  • disclose the nature and impact of mining activities to source feedstock.

• Proof of adherence to Leakage requirements

  • Diversion of rare earth elements and critical minerals from other applications, such as renewable energy supply chains.

  • Potential misallocation of mineral waste that could have lower-emission alternative uses.