EPA Proposes Amending NSPS for the Oil and Natural Sector

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted proposed amendments to its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for controlling methane and other emissions from the oil and natural gas sector. EPA is proposing to “remove sources in the transmission and storage segment from the source category, rescind the NSPS (including both the volatile organic compounds (VOC) and methane requirements) applicable to those sources, and rescind the methane-specific requirements (the “methane requirements”) of the NSPS applicable to sources in the production and processing segments.” EPA’s proposes an alternative amendment that would rescind the NSPS methane requirements without removing any sources from the source category. If approved, these measures would remove  existing NSPS measures to regulate greenhouse gas emissions through limitations on emissions of methane.

Interested parties can comment on the proposal for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.