Reminder: EQB Virtual Hearings On Reg. Controlling VOCs/Methane From Existing Oil, Gas Operations June 23, 24, 25

The Environmental Quality Board is inviting comments on a proposed regulation to control methane emissions from existing oil and gas operations by setting volatile organic compound emission standards. (May 23 PA Bulletin notice)

DEP estimates the regulation will reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations by 75,000+ tons per year and VOC emissions by more than 4,400 tons.  Read more here.

Virtual Hearings

The EQB has scheduled three virtual public hearings on the regulation for June 23 at 6:00 p.m., June 24 at 2:00 p.m. and June 25 at 6:00 p.m.

Persons wishing to present testimony at a hearing must contact Jennifer Swan for the Department and the Board, at either 717-783-8727 or RA-EPEQB@pa.gov a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony.

Information on accessing the hearing is posted on the Environmental Quality Board webpage.

The deadline for public comments is July 27.  Comments may be submitted through DEP’s eComment webpage - where you can view all comments submitted, by email to: RegComments@pa.gov or in writing to Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477.

Read the entire May 23 PA Bulletin Notice for more information.

Background

The approach used in the regulation is based on a federal Control Technique Guideline for oil and gas facilities which will be used to develop a RACT standard.  RACT is defined as the lowest emission limitation that a particular source is capable of meeting with economically feasible, reasonably available emissions control technology.

The new regulations would require oil and gas operators that produce above a certain threshold to use leak detection and repair (LDAR) equipment to identify (and fix) leaks, as well as use other equipment designed to reduce emissions.

Generally, the regulation calls for a 95 percent reduction in VOC emissions, however, some equipment-specific requirements call for less or more.  For example, natural gas processing plants are required to have zero VOC emissions.

DEP estimates there are approximately 435 midstream compressor stations, 120 transmission compressor stations and 10 natural gas processing facilities whose owners and operators may be subject to the proposed VOC emission reduction measures, work practice standards, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

In addition, an estimated 8,403 unconventional natural gas wells, as 303 of the 71,229 conventional natural gas wells that are above the 15 barrel of oil equivalent per production threshold would be covered by the regulation.

DEP consulted with the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee, the Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee and the Citizens Advisory Council in the development of this proposed rulemaking.

Click Here for a copy of the May 23 PA Bulletin notice. 

Copies of the entire regulatory package are available-- Executive Summary; Preamble; Annex A -The Regulation; Regulatory Analysis Form; Citizens Advisory Council Letter June 18, 2019;  Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee Letter April 17, 2019; Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee Letter April 11, 2019.

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[Posted: June 13, 2020]  PA Environment Digest