Environment

EPA Seeks Comments on Proposed Withdrawal of Oil and Natural Gas Control Technical Guidelines

On 1 March 1, the US Environmental Protection Agency's administrator, E. Scott Pruitt, signed a notice seeking public comment on the proposed withdrawal of the control techniques guidelines for the oil and natural gas industry.

On 1 March, the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) administrator, E. Scott Pruitt, signed a notice seeking public comment on the proposed withdrawal of the control techniques guidelines (CTG) for the oil and natural gas industry. The oil and natural gas CTGs make recommendations for reducing volatile organic compound emissions from oil and natural gas equipment and processes in ozone nonattainment areas classified as moderate or higher and states in the Ozone Transport Region by addressing reasonably available control technology review requirements in their state implementation plans.

The EPA is currently reconsidering and taking a "broad look" at certain requirements under the 2016 New Source Performance Standards for the oil and natural gas sector. Specifically, on 16 June 2017, the EPA published a propose rule that would stay the fugitive emission requirements, wellsite pneumatic pump standards, and the requirements for closed vent systems certification by a professional engineer while the agency reconsiders them.

Read the full story here.

Read the public comment notice here (PDF).