EPA halts Obama-era rule on methane pollution
Source: The Hill
EPA halts Obama-era rule on methane pollution
BY DEVIN HENRY - 05/31/17 12:08 PM EDT
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has halted an Obama administration rule to cut down on pollution of methane, a greenhouse gas produced at oil and natural gas drilling wells.
The EPA on Wednesday said it had issued a 90-day stay of agency rules designed to limit methane leaks at drilling sites, as well as rules setting standards for equipment and employee certification.
President Trump ordered the EPA to reconsider the methane standards in March when he signed an executive order to repeal several Obama administration climate regulations.
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/335777-epa-halts-obama-era-methane-regulation
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-stays-oil-and-gas-standards
News Releases
News Releases from HeadquartersAir and Radiation (OAR)
EPA Stays Oil and Gas Standards
05/31/2017
Contact Information:
(press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is following through on its commitment to stay portions of the 2016 New Source Performance Standards for the oil and natural gas industry while the agency works through the reconsideration process.
Using its Clean Air Act authority, the agency is issuing a 90-day stay of the fugitive emissions, pneumatic pumps, and professional engineer certification requirements from the 2016 rule. Sources do not need to comply with these requirements while the 90-day stay is in effect. EPAs action is in line with President Trumps Energy Independence Executive Order, which directed the agency to review the oil and gas rules.
In June 2016, EPA issued updated standards for new, reconstructed and modified oil and gas sources. Since issuing the final rules last year, EPA has received several petitions to reconsider aspects of the New Source Performance Standards. In an April 18, 2017 letter to petitioners, the agency announced its intent to reconsider certain aspects of the rule, including the fugitive emissions requirements. This action also grants reconsideration and stays for 90 days the pneumatic pump and professional engineer certification requirements in the rule.
As part of the reconsideration process, EPA expects to prepare a proposed rule, which will allow for public comment. Additional information on the stay and reconsideration: https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry
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