EPA Proposes Greenhouse Gas Reporting Changes for Oil and Gas Industry
In the Federal Register on January 29, 2016, US EPA proposed a rule to revise the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) requirements and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category.
EPA is proposing to add new monitoring methods for detecting leaks of greenhouse gases from oil and gas equipment to the list of methods at 40 CFR 98, Subpart W. The proposal follows the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) EPA proposed for the oil and gas industry in August 2015.
Examples of facilities in the affected oil and gas source category include: pipeline transportation of natural gas, natural gas distribution, crude petroleum and natural gas extraction, and natural gas liquid extraction.
Proposed Changes to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules
In the proposal, EPA states that advanced monitoring methods like “optical gas imaging,” or OGI, can help facilities detect leaks sooner and reduce the amount of toxic air pollutants—namely methane—that are released to the environment.
In addition to adding new equipment monitoring and leak-detection methods, the proposal includes new emission factors for leaking equipment to be used in calculating and reporting leaks of greenhouse gases from equipment.
New Reporting Requirements for Oil and Gas Facilities
Lastly, the proposal includes new confidentiality determinations for nine data elements. This means new or substantially revised reporting requirements for industry segments such as:
New Clean Air Act Regulations Now Available
To help environmental engineers, EHS managers, and compliance officers keep their facilities in compliance with the US EPA’s Clean Air Act programs, a new online course will launch on February 1, 2016. The Clean Air Act Regulations guides professionals through compliance with Title V permit requirements, emissions and pollution controls, annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, Risk Management Planning (RMP) responsibilities, and more.
Build the expertise needed to make informed on-the-job decisions that help your site control pollution and maintain compliance. Interactive, easy to use, and available 24/7, the new online course will help you get up to speed with new and changing EPA clean air rules and protect your facility from costly EPA enforcement.
EPA is proposing to add new monitoring methods for detecting leaks of greenhouse gases from oil and gas equipment to the list of methods at 40 CFR 98, Subpart W. The proposal follows the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) EPA proposed for the oil and gas industry in August 2015.
Examples of facilities in the affected oil and gas source category include: pipeline transportation of natural gas, natural gas distribution, crude petroleum and natural gas extraction, and natural gas liquid extraction.
Proposed Changes to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rules
In the proposal, EPA states that advanced monitoring methods like “optical gas imaging,” or OGI, can help facilities detect leaks sooner and reduce the amount of toxic air pollutants—namely methane—that are released to the environment.
In addition to adding new equipment monitoring and leak-detection methods, the proposal includes new emission factors for leaking equipment to be used in calculating and reporting leaks of greenhouse gases from equipment.
New Reporting Requirements for Oil and Gas Facilities
Lastly, the proposal includes new confidentiality determinations for nine data elements. This means new or substantially revised reporting requirements for industry segments such as:
- Onshore petroleum of and natural gas production
- Onshore petroleum and natural gas gathering and boosting
- Onshore natural gas processing
- Onshore natural gas transmission compression
- Underground natural gas storage
- LNG storage
- LNG Import and Export Equipment
- Natural gas distribution
New Clean Air Act Regulations Now Available
To help environmental engineers, EHS managers, and compliance officers keep their facilities in compliance with the US EPA’s Clean Air Act programs, a new online course will launch on February 1, 2016. The Clean Air Act Regulations guides professionals through compliance with Title V permit requirements, emissions and pollution controls, annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, Risk Management Planning (RMP) responsibilities, and more.
Build the expertise needed to make informed on-the-job decisions that help your site control pollution and maintain compliance. Interactive, easy to use, and available 24/7, the new online course will help you get up to speed with new and changing EPA clean air rules and protect your facility from costly EPA enforcement.
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