EPA proposes new regulations that would dramatically affect oil and gas industry

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a suite of regulations in late July that are intended to reduce air pollution from the oil and natural gas industry.  The proposal offers four new air regulations for the oil and natural gas industry: a new source performance standard for VOCs, a new source performance standard for sulfur dioxide, an air toxics standard for oil and natural gas production and an air toxics standard for natural gas transmission and storage.

According to the EPA, the proposal would cut smog-forming volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by nearly one-fourth across the oil and gas industry. These reductions would be accomplished through use of existing technologies to capture natural gas that currently escapes to the air. That gas would then be made available for sale.  The final ruling on these proposals is expected to be finalized in February 2012.  Please provide us your feedback on these proposals at legislative@kychamber.com.