Oil and Natural Gas Air Pollution Standards
Announcements
April 17, 2012 - EPA issued cost-effective regulations, required by the Clean Air Act, to reduce harmful air pollution from the oil and natural gas industry while allowing continued, responsible growth in U.S. oil and natural gas production
EPA has issued cost effective regulations to reduce harmful air pollution from the oil and natural gas industry, while allowing continued, responsible growth in U.S. oil and natural gas production. The final rules rely on proven technologies and best practices that are in use today to reduce emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The final rules are expected to yield a nearly 95 percent reduction in VOC emissions from more than 11,000 new hydraulically fractured gas wells each year. This significant reduction would be accomplished primarily through capturing natural gas that currently escapes into the air, and making that gas available for sale. The rules also will reduce air toxics, which are known or suspected of causing cancer and other serious health effects, and emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The final action includes the review of four rules for the oil and natural gas industry: a new source performance standard for VOCs; a new source performance standard for sulfur dioxide; an air toxics standard for oil and natural gas production; and an air toxics standard for natural gas transmission and storage.
Basic Information - Information about emissions and the oil and natural gas industry
Regulatory Actions - Links to proposed and final rules, fact sheets, and other rulemaking documents
Technical Information - Technical information about the air toxics standards under review
Public Meetings - Information on review of rules
EPA's Natural Gas Star Program - A flexible, voluntary partnership that encourages oil and natural gas companies, both domestically and abroad, to adopt cost-effective technologies and practices that improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and clean energy source