EPA Stays Clean Air Act NSPS Final Rule for Oil and Gas Sector

UPDATE 06/16/17: In a proposal posted to the Federal Register on Friday, June 16, EPA proposed a two-year stay of certain requirements found in the updated Clean Air Act New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the oil and gas sector finalized in 2016.


As promised in a letter from Administrator Scott Pruitt in April this year, US EPA today announced it will stay for three months—and ultimately reconsider—a Final Rule that set new Clean Air Act emissions requirements for oil and gas well and compression station sites.  

Finalized one year ago on June 3, 2016, the New Source Performance Standards for the oil and gas sector Final Rule aimed to reduce emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds (VOC) by expanding the range of sources covered under EPA’s existing NSPS rules. 

See the official announcement in the Federal Register here.

The stay on this Clean Air Act Final Rule is in place from June 2, 2017 until August 31, 2017, at which time EPA will have announced a revised rulemaking or extended the stay to give the Agency more time to reconsider these Clean Air Act rules for the oil and gas industry. 
Questions about Clean Air Act requirements and who must comply? Check out the FAQ on our
Clean Air Act online course page. 

Find a link to Administrator Pruitt’s April 18 letter announcing the action here.
See a full breakdown of the now-stayed Final Rule here.

What Are the Clean Air Act New Source Performance Standards?

New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) requirements are technology-based standards developed by US EPA to control air pollution from affected facilities. The current New Source Performance Standards can be found at 40 CFR 60. EPA is authorized to set these standards under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act.
 

NSPS requirements impact newly built, modified, or reconstructed equipment identified in 40 CFR 60 that emits one or more of the six criteria pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (PM), and ozone.

Comprehensive Clean Air Act Training—Anytime, Anywhere

The Clean Air Act Regulations online course 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. 
 

Tags: Act, Air, Clean, EPA, new rules, oil and gas