Equipment Leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds From Onshore Natural Gas Processing Plants for Which Construction, Reconstruction, or Modification Commenced After January 20, 1984, and on or Before August 23, 2011: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)

On this page:

• Rule Summary
• Rule History
• Additional Resources
• Compliance

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 new, modified, and reconstructed equipment leaks of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in onshore natural gas processing plants.

Rule History

08/16/2012 – Final Rule (77 FR 49490)

08/23/2011 – Proposed Rule (76 FR 52738)

10/17/2000 – Final Rule: Amendments for Testing and Monitoring Provisions (65 FR 61744)

01/14/1998 – Supplemental: Amendments for Testing and Monitoring Provisions (63 FR 2194)

11/18/1997 – Proposed Rule: Amendments for Testing and Monitoring Provisions (62 FR 61483)

08/27/1997 – Proposed Rule: Amendments for Testing and Monitoring Provisions (62 FR 45369)

01/21/1986 – Equipment Leaks from Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry; Natural Gas Processing Plants; Equipment Leaks of Benzene Flare Requirements: Final Rule

06/24/1985 – Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources; Equipment Leaks of VOC from Onshore Natural Gas Processing Plants: Final Rule

04/16/1985 – Equipment Leaks of VOC from Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry, Petroleum Refineries; Equipment Leaks of Benzene; Benzene Emissions from Coke By-Product Recovery Plants; Distillation Unit Operations; Volatile Organic Liquid Storage Vessels; and General Provisions: Proposed Rule

04/04/1984 – Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources: Equipment Leaks of VOC and SO₂ Emissions From Onshore Natural Gas Processing Plants; Proposed Rules

01/20/1984 – Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources; Onshore Natural Gas Processing Plants in the Natural Gas Production Industry; Equipment Leaks of VOC; Proposed Rule and Notice of Public Hearing

Additional Resources

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

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

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

Related Actions

Compliance

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.