USEPA to Delay Fugitive GHG Emissions Rule for the Oil and Gas IndustryOn April 18, 2017, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that the EPA intends to stay the effective date for fugitive GHG emissions monitoring requirements for 90 days, due to issues raised in petitions for reconsideration of the rule from the oil and gas industry. Emission Sources will not need to comply with these requirements once the stay is in effect until the new compliance date, which is September 3, 2017.
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The fugitive GHG emissions under consideration are composed of primarily methane generated from oil and gas production and transmission operations. Natural gas is largely made up of methane, a greenhouse gas, which can cause up to 100 times more warming in the planet's atmosphere than the same amount of carbon dioxide.
The rule, promulgated in 40 CFR 60 Subpart OOOOa, would have required companies to monitor and report methane emissions and reduce methane leaks from their facilities, in addition to other requirements for VOC and other toxic air pollutants.
Methane rule supporters indicate that emissions numbers are grossly underestimated by industry and that this rule will improve the accuracy of the reporting and force industry to eventually plug leaking wells and infrastructure. Some of Industry’s objections concern provisions for alternative means of emissions limitations and the inclusion of low producing wells. Industry contends that the new requirements will make low producing wells unprofitable.
While the stay is not a permanent reprieve from this rule, other petitions are being reviewed by the EPA and the reconsideration process may result in further delays for the implementation.
Visit the USEPA web site for more information on this rule.
The rule, promulgated in 40 CFR 60 Subpart OOOOa, would have required companies to monitor and report methane emissions and reduce methane leaks from their facilities, in addition to other requirements for VOC and other toxic air pollutants.
Methane rule supporters indicate that emissions numbers are grossly underestimated by industry and that this rule will improve the accuracy of the reporting and force industry to eventually plug leaking wells and infrastructure. Some of Industry’s objections concern provisions for alternative means of emissions limitations and the inclusion of low producing wells. Industry contends that the new requirements will make low producing wells unprofitable.
While the stay is not a permanent reprieve from this rule, other petitions are being reviewed by the EPA and the reconsideration process may result in further delays for the implementation.
Visit the USEPA web site for more information on this rule.
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