EPA Proposes New Source Performance Standards, Updates Emissions Guidelines to Reduce Methane and Other Harmful Pollution from the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

November 2, 2021

EPA is taking a significant step in fighting the climate crisis and protecting public health through a proposed rule that would sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollution from both new and existing sources in the oil and natural gas industry. The proposal would expand and strengthen emissions reduction requirements that are currently on the books for new, modified and reconstructed oil and natural gas sources, and would require states to reduce methane emissions from hundreds of thousands of existing sources nationwide for the first time. Prior to issuing the proposal, the Agency conducted significant pre-proposal outreach, including public listening sessions,  trainings for communities, tribes and small businesses, and a methane detection technology workshop. The outreach is described in the final rule. 

• Proposed Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review
• Table of Covered Sources, 2012, 2016 and Proposed for 2021 (pdf) (227.45 KB)
• Regulatory Impact Analysis
• Comment period extension

Other Technical Materials

• Appendix K – Protocol for Using Optical Gas Imaging to Detect Volatile Organic Compound and Greenhouse Gas Leaks (pdf) (426.31 KB)
• Redlined Regulatory Text (pdf) (920.24 KB)
  This document shows updates to NSPS OOOOa in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the recent Joint Resolution under the Congressional Review Act, and proposed changes to NSPS OOOOa to address regulatory inconsistencies stemming from that action.