EPA Issues Final Air Rules for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

April 17, 2012 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued cost-effective regulations, required by the Clean Air Act, to reduce harmful air pollution from the oil and natural gas industry while allowing continued, responsible growth in U.S. oil and natural gas production. The final rules include the first federal air standards for natural gas wells that are hydraulically fractured, along with requirements for several other sources of pollution in the oil and gas industry that currently are not regulated at the federal level.  Based on public comment, EPA made a number of changes to the proposed rules to increase compliance flexibility while maintaining comparable environmental benefits, streamline notification, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and strengthen accountability.

Read the rule, regulatory impact analysis and fact sheets

• Final Rule - Federal Register - August 16, 2012
• Regulatory Impact Analysis
• Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Information for States
• Additional Fact Sheets and Presentation
• Additional information on National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
  • Transmission and Storage
  • Natural Gas Production