View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings Printer-Friendly Version     Download RIN Data in XML

EPA/WATER RIN: 2040-AF35 Publication ID: Spring 2015 
Title: Effluent Guidelines and Standards for Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category 
Abstract:

Recent advances in the well completion process, combining hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, have made extraction of oil and natural gas from unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources more technologically and economically feasible. UOG process wastewater may be generated in large quantities and contains constituents that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment. Process wastewater from UOG wells often contains high concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) (salt content). The wastewater may also contain various organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, metals, and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). These large quantities of potentially harmful wastewater create a need for appropriate wastewater management infrastructure and management practices. This regulation would strengthen existing federal controls on pollutant discharges from certain oil and gas extraction facilities by establishing pretreatment standards that would prevent the discharge of pollutants in process wastewater from on-shore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs).

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 435   
Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq Clean Water Act   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  04/07/2015  80 FR 18557   
NPRM Comment Period End  06/08/2015 
Final Rule  08/00/2016 
Additional Information: Docket #:EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0334
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined  Government Levels Affected: Undetermined 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Information URL: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/cbm_index.cfm  
Sectors Affected: 213111 Drilling Oil and Gas Wells; 213112 Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Lisa Biddle
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
4303T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-0350
Email: biddle.lisa@epa.gov

Jan Matuszko
Environmental Protection Agency
Water
4303T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20460
Phone:202 566-1035
Fax:202 566-1053
Email: matuszko.jan@epa.gov