Amendments to the New Source Performance Standards for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry
On March 1, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced amendments to two narrow provisions of the 2016 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the oil and natural gas industry in response to comments the agency received on proposed stays of the rule and on subsequent Notices of Data Availability. The amendments address two of the “fugitive emissions” requirements in the 2016 rule that pose significant and immediate compliance concerns: a requirement that leaking components be repaired during unplanned or emergency shutdowns; and the monitoring survey requirements for well sites located on the Alaskan North Slope.
EPA is reconsidering certain aspects of the NSPS and intends to look broadly at the rule during that time. The agency will issue a proposal addressing the reconsideration of the rule for public review and comment at a later date.