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EPA/OAR RIN: 2060-AT90 Publication ID: Fall 2020 
Title: Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review 
Abstract:

On August 13, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule titled "Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review," in response to President Trump's 2017 Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth. The order directed agencies to review existing regulations that potentially "burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources," including oil and natural gas, and to suspend, revise or rescind regulatory requirements if appropriate. In 2017, the EPA provided notice to initiate the review of the oil and natural gas new source performance standards (NSPS) and, if appropriate, to initiate proceedings to suspend, revise or rescind the rule. Subsequently, in a notice dated June 5, 2017, the EPA further committed to look broadly at the entire NSPS. Specifically, this final rule amends the NSPS at 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 60, subpart OOOO (promulgated in 2012) and OOOOa (promulgated in 2016). These amendments remove sources in the transmission and storage segment from the source category, rescind the NSPS including both the volatile organic compounds and methane requirements applicable to those sources, and separately rescinds the methane-specific requirements of the NSPS applicable to sources in the production and processing segments. Furthermore, the EPA adopts an interpretation of Clean Air Act section 111 under which the EPA, as a predicate to promulgating NSPS for certain air pollutants, must determine that the pertinent pollutant causes or contributes significantly to dangerous air pollution. In a separate action on August 13, 2020, to respond to petitions for reconsideration on the 2016 rule, EPA finalized targeted technical amendments to the NSPS. EPA finalized the two rules concurrently to simplify compliance requirements.

 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
EO 13771 Designation: Deregulatory 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 60   
Legal Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., Clean Air Act   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Notice  09/20/2019  84 FR 49497   
NPRM  09/24/2019  84 FR 50244   
Final Rule  09/14/2020  85 FR 57018   
Final Rule Effective  09/14/2020 
Additional Information: Docket #:EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0757. Additional website on Oil and Natural Gas industry: https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/clean-air-act-standards-and-guidelines-oil-and-natural-gas-industry
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: Federal, State, Tribal 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
International Impacts: This regulatory action will be likely to have international trade and investment effects, or otherwise be of international interest.
RIN Information URL: https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry/actions-and-notices-about-oil-and-natural-gas#regactions   Public Comment URL: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0757  
Sectors Affected: 211111 Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction; 211112 Natural Gas Liquid Extraction; 221210 Natural Gas Distribution; 486110 Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil; 486210 Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Amy Hambrick
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Mail Code E143-05,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone:919 541-0964
Fax:919 541-0516
Email: hambrick.amy@epa.gov