2016 Final New Source Performance Standards and Permitting Requirements for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry and Related Actions
EPA Issues Final Rules Updating New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), Permitting Rules for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry
May 12, 2016 -- EPA issued three final rules that together will curb emissions of methane, smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic air pollutants such as benzene from new, reconstructed and modified oil and gas sources, while providing greater certainty about Clean Air Act
Final Updates to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
Under the President’s Climate Action Plan: Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions and the Clean Air Act, EPA has issued final updates to the NSPS that curb emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from additional new, modified and reconstructed sources in the oil and gas industry.
- Final Rule - Federal Register - June 3, 2016
- Final Rule Regulatory Impact Analysis
- Oil and Natural Gas Industry Sources Covered by the 2012 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and the 2016 NSPS for Methane and VOCs, by Site
Final Source Determination Rule
This final rule clarifies EPA’s air permitting rules as they apply to the oil and natural gas industry.
- Final Source Determination Rule - Federal Register - June 3, 2016
Final Federal Implementation Plan for EPA’s Indian Country Minor New Source Review (NSR) Program for Oil and Natural Gas Production Sources
This final rule will limit harmful emissions while streamlining the permitting process for the oil and natural gas production industry in Indian country. Read the final rule and related documents.
2018 Final Amendments to the 2016 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) 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.
Related Proposed Rules
Proposed measures to cut methane and VOC emissions from the oil and natural gas industry and clarify permitting requirements
August 18, 2015 - EPA has proposed a suite of commonsense requirements that together will help combat climate change, reduce air pollution that harms public health, and provide greater certainty about Clean Air Act permitting requirements for the oil and natural gas industry. These include:
Proposed updates to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Draft Control Techniques Guidelines
- Proposed updates to the NSPS would set methane and VOC requirements for additional new and modified sources in the oil and gas industry
- Proposed Rule - September 18, 2015
- Regulatory Impact Analysis
- Draft Control Techniques Guidelines for Reducing VOC Emissions from Existing Oil and Gas Sources in Certain Ozone Nonattainment Areas and States in the Ozone Transport Region
- Notice of Availability - September 18, 2015
Proposed Source Determination Rule – This proposed rule would clarify EPA’s air permitting rules as they apply to the oil and natural gas industry.
- Proposed Source Determination Rule - Federal Register - September 18, 2015
Proposed Federal Implementation Plan for EPA’s Indian Country Minor New Source Review (NSR) program for oil and gas production sources – This proposed plan would limit harmful emissions while streamlining the permitting process for this rapidly growing industry in Indian country.