EPA Proposes Regulation of Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Industry

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed new regulations on Tuesday intended to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry by up to forty five percent from 2012 levels by 2025.  The proposed regulations, the first-ever of its kind, target new and modified sources.  The EPA expects to reduce 340,000 to 400,000 short tons of methane by 2025.  To achieve these cuts, the proposal requires businesses to find and repair leaks, capture natural gas from the completion of wells, limit emissions from new and modified pneumatic pumps, and limit emissions from several types of equipment used at natural gas transmission compressor stations, including compressors and pneumatic controllers. 

A copy of the proposal may be accessed here.