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Controlling Air Pollution from the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

New Source Performance Standards and Permitting Requirements

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Note: EPA intends to reconsider certain aspects of fugitive emissions requirements in the 2016 New Source Performance Standards for the oil and natural gas industry. Learn More

EPA Updates New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), Permitting Rules for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

May 12, 2016 -- EPA has issued three final rules that together will curb emissions of methane, smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic air pollutants such as benzene from new, reconstructed and modified oil and gas sources, while providing greater certainty about Clean Air Act

Final Updates to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) - Under the President’s Climate Action Plan: Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions and the Clean Air Act, EPA has issued final updates to the NSPS that curb emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from additional new, modified and reconstructed sources in the oil and gas industry.

Final Source Determination Rule – This final rule clarifies EPA’s air permitting rules as they apply to the oil and natural gas industry.

Federal Implementation Plan for EPA’s Indian Country Minor New Source Review (NSR) program for oil and gas production sources – This final rule will limit harmful emissions while streamlining the permitting process for the oil and natural gas production industry in Indian country.  Learn more.

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Proposed measures to cut methane and VOC emissions from the oil and natural gas industry and clarify permitting requirements

August 18, 2015 - EPA has proposed a suite of commonsense requirements that together will help combat climate change, reduce air pollution that harms public health, and provide greater certainty about Clean Air Act permitting requirements for the oil and natural gas industry. These include:

Proposed updates to New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Draft Control Techniques Guidelines

Proposed Source Determination Rule – This proposed rule would clarify EPA’s air permitting rules as they apply to the oil and natural gas industry.

Proposed Federal Implementation Plan for EPA’s Indian Country Minor New Source Review (NSR) program for oil and gas production sources – This proposed plan would limit harmful emissions while streamlining the permitting process for this rapidly growing industry in Indian country.

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Controlling Air Pollution from Oil and Natural Gas Production