Additional Reconsideration Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review
Key claim: EPA is proposing to ease its 2024 oil and gas methane rules by eliminating the Super Emitter Program, treating some well sites more leniently, and loosening leak, equipment, and control-device requirements.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the New Source Performance Standards and Emission Guidelines for the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Source Category to address additional concerns raised with prior regulatory amendments finalized in March 2024. Specifically, the EPA is proposing changes in response to certain petitions for reconsideration of the March 2024 amendments, changes based on policy decisions and supporting legal interpretations, and changes that correct and clarify the regulatory text of the new source performance standards and emission guidelines. First, the EPA proposes to rescind the Super Emitter Program. Second, the EPA proposes to subcategorize different types of well sites affected and designated facilities to address issues related to the requirements finalized in March 2024 for marginal well sites and conventional well sites. Third, the EPA proposes changes to address issues related to liquids unloading, process controllers, pumps, fugitive emissions, storage vessels, covers and closed vent systems, equipment leaks at gas plants, and associated gas. Fourth, the EPA proposes changes to certain requirements finalized in March 2024 related to control devices and to provide owners and operators the option to conduct optical gas imaging surveys according to Appendix K for gas processing facilities. Lastly, the EPA proposes changes to correct inadvertent errors and to clarify regulatory language.
Why this matters
Oil and gas methane is the largest industrial source of U.S. methane emissions, and the 2024 NSPS/EG rules were the Biden-era EPA’s central tool for cutting it; rolling them back materially changes compliance costs for producers and projected methane reductions through 2035. The Super Emitter Program in particular was a novel third-party monitoring mechanism, so rescinding it removes a near-real-time enforcement pathway for very large leaks. The proposal pairs with the earlier CRA repeal of the methane Waste Emissions Charge to substantially shrink the federal methane regulatory stack for the sector.