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Frequent Questions
What is the Natural Gas STAR Program?
The Natural Gas STAR Program is a flexible, voluntary partnership
between EPA and the oil and natural gas industry. Through
the Gas STAR Program, EPA works with production, processing, and
transmission and distribution
companies to identify and promote the implementation of
cost-effective technologies and practices to reduce emissions of methane,
a potent greenhouse gas.
How much work will be required for my company
to participate in
the Natural Gas STAR Program?
The Natural Gas STAR Program is designed to minimize administrative burden.
The amount of time that a company will spend working on the Gas STAR Program
depends on the level of involvement a company takes in the program. When
current partners were asked to estimate the amount of time a new partner
would spend on the Natural Gas STAR Program in the first year of participation,
they said that partners would spend only 20-25 hours. That estimate includes
reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),
developing implementation plans, using EPA outreach materials, and all
legal and clerical support. After the first year, estimates of annual
administrative requirements decrease to fewer than 20 hours per year for
annual report preparation.
How much does it cost to be a partner in the Natural
Gas STAR Program?
There is no upfront cost to joining the Natural Gas STAR Program. In
fact, partner companies have found that participation in Gas STAR can
yield significant economic benefits. While some of the Best Management
Practices BMPs do have small incremental costs over standard technologies
or processes, they are generally cost effective, and can recoup these
costs in as little as 1-2 years. For example, partners installing low-bleed
pneumatic devices incur an approximate $167 incremental cost over standard
high-bleed devices. The gas that is saved by these devices pays for the
$167 within 1-3 years. After the payback period, the gas saved by the
device is entirely profit.
Why is EPA working with industry to reduce methane emissions?
EPA has established a voluntary program to reduce methane emissions because
it is a potent greenhouse gas. Though emitted in much smaller quantities,
methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide.
Additional information on the science, emissions, and reduction opportunities
for methane can be found at the EPA's methane Web site at http://www.epa.gov/methane/.
If you are interested in learning more about global warming and its potential
impacts, please visit EPA's global warming Web site at http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming.
What are the major
emissions sources from natural gas systems?
According to the Inventory
of Greenhouse Gases and Sinks: 1990-2001, the major methane emissions
sources by natural gas sector are:
- Production:
Fugitive Emissions and Pneumatic Devices
- Processing:
Compressors
- Transmission (including Storage):
Compressor Stations and Metering and Regulating Stations
- Distribution: Fugitive Emissions
from Gate Stations and Non-Plastic Piping
How much methane is emitted from natural gas systems?
According to the Inventory
of Greenhouse Gases and Sinks: 1990-2001, the natural gas industry
in 2001 emitted 290 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of methane in 2001. Of this
amount, 26% was from production operations, 12% from the processing sector,
34% from transmission and storage systems, and 28% from distribution systems.
How much money
can I save by decreasing methane emissions?
The amount of money a Gas STAR partner will save is dependent upon many
factors, including industry sector, the number and types of projects undertaken,
the capital and O&M costs associated with the projects, and the value
of natural gas. Some of our partners report saving millions of dollars
a year worth of natural gas by implementing the leak reduction practices
we endorse. The Natural Gas STAR Program does not ask its partners to
undertake any emission reduction projects they do not project to be cost
effective under their own self-determined economic criteria.
What are the benefits of joining
the Natural Gas STAR Program?
Partnership
with the Natural Gas STAR Program comes with many benefits.
Gas STAR will help you:
- Save time identifying the best technologies
and practices for reducing methane emissions
- Build a network of industry
peers and draw upon their experience and successes
- Enhance your corporate environmental
reputation
- Create a record
of your voluntary emissions reductions activities
What are the benefits of reporting methane emissions reductions?
The valuable information that partners provide in
their annual reports helps the program to better understand
the sources of methane emissions and opportunities to reduce them.
Reporting
is beneficial
to the partners because it creates a permanent record of
their company’s
voluntary reductions, demonstrates to company management
the financial and environmental benefits of participating
in Natural Gas STAR, and
proves that voluntary partnerships can be effective at reaching
environmental goals.
How do I join the Natural Gas STAR
Program?
To become a partner in EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program,
simply review and sign the Program's Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU).
Once I join the program, what are the next steps?
Once you join the
program, you should:
- Appoint a company representative as
the Natural Gas STAR Program Implementation Manager
responsible for implementing
this voluntary agreement.
- Evaluate STAR Program BMPs that are applicable and cost-effective
for your operations.
- Submit an implementation plan outlining
expected activities.
- Implement, within 3 years, applicable
BMPs and Partner Reported Opportunities (PROs) at facilities
in the United States as outlined
in the implementation plan when cost effective.
- Submit
annual reports describing the BMPs and PROs implemented,
the cost of implementation, and the
associated methane emissions reductions.
- Communicate
participation to employees and cooperate with EPA efforts
to publicize the Program.
I am not in the natural
gas production, processing, transmission or distribution
industry. Can I still join Gas STAR?
Although there is currently no provision for non-industry partnership
with the Natural Gas STAR Program, at your request
we will include you on our mailing list so that you can stay current on
the latest Gas STAR news. You are also welcome to take advantage of any
of the resources available on our Web site.
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