Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities for Which Construction, Modification, or Reconstruction Commenced after September 18, 2015: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)

Rule Summary

Section 111 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the EPA to list categories of stationary sources, if such sources cause or contribute significantly to air pollution, which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. The EPA must then issue performance standards for such source categories.

This new source performance standard regulates both volatile organic compound (VOC) and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from specific sources within the oil and natural gas industry which include new, modified, and reconstructed compressors, pneumatic controllers, pneumatic pumps, well completions, fugitive emissions from well sites and compressor stations, and equipment leaks at natural gas processing plants.

Rule History

06/03/2016 – Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources: Final Rule

11/13/2015 – Source Determination for Certain Emission Units in the Oil and Natural Gas Sector; Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New and Modified Sources; and Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian Country: Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Air Emissions From True Minor Sources Engaged in Oil and Natural Gas Production in Indian Country: Proposed Rule; Extension of Public Comment Period

09/18/2015 – Emission Standards for New and Modified Sources: Proposed Rule

08/27/2015 – Source Determination for Certain Emission Units in the Oil and Natural Gas Sector; Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New and Modified Sources; and Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian Country: Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Air Emissions From True Minor Sources Engaged in Oil and Natural Gas Production in Indian Country: Proposed Rule; Notice of Public Hearings

Additional Resources

Fact Sheets and Additional information Regarding the 2012 Final Amendments to Air Regulations for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

Sources Covered by the 2012 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and the 2016 NSPS for Methane and VOCs, by Site

EPA's Actions to Reduce Methane and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from the Oil and Natural Gas Industry: 2016 Final Rules and Draft Information Collection Request Fact Sheet and Presentation

Clean Air Act Standards and Guidelines for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

Request for Information on Emerging Technologies and Information Collection Request for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

Compliance

OOOOa Reporting

Applicability Determination Index (ADI). The ADI is maintained by EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and provides a data base of memoranda dealing with applicability issues. The database is searchable by Subpart.

Small Business Compliance Guide

August 3, 2016 - EPA released a compliance guide to assist small businesses in understanding the requirements of the 2016 New Source Performance Standards for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry. The rule became effective August 2, 2016.

Small business compliance guide (PDF) (78pp, 1.5 MB)

Manufacturer-Tested Combustion Control Devices

Updated March 2016 - List of combustion control device models that have been tested by the manufacturer

Notification Requirement for Well Completions Begins October 15, 2012

Beginning October 15, 2012, gas well completion notification provisions under EPA's 2012 oil and gas standards take effect. Companies can meet this provision by complying with state advance notification requirements. If a state does not have an advance notification requirement, companies must inform EPA no later than two days before the well completion using hydraulic fracturing begins. Companies may submit this notification electronically or in writing. EPA finalized this approach after receiving feedback from industry, states and others during the 100-day public comment period. Companies have until 2015 to meet the green completion requirements in the final rule.

On August 16, 2012, EPA published the notification requirement in Oil and Natural Gas Sector: New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Reviews; Final Rule (PDF) (112pp, 1.0 MB). Owners or operators that need to notify EPA may send a notification email to the appropriate region at the address listed below.

Region 1: none (No fracturing anticipated)
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Tribal Nations
Region 2: r2wellcompletion@epa.gov
New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Tribal Nations
Region 3: r3wellcompletion@epa.gov
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
Region 4: r4wellcompletion@epa.gov
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Tribal Nations
Region 5: r5wellcompletion@epa.gov
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and Tribal Nations
Region 6: r6wellcompletion@epa.gov
Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and Tribal Nations
Region 7: r7wellcompletion@epa.gov
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tribal Nations
Region 8: r8wellcompletion@epa.gov
Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and Tribal Nations
Region 9: r9wellcompletion@epa.gov
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and Tribal Nations
Region 10: r10wellcompletion@epa.gov
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Tribal Nations