Comment Period Extension for Proposed Oil and Gas NSPS/NESHAP Revisions

In an October 28, 2011 Federal Register announcement, U.S. EPA extended the comment period for the proposed revisions to both the Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources (NSPS) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Oil and Gas sector. The proposed revisions impact the following regulations:

• 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart KKK – Standards of Performance for Equipment Leaks of VOC From Onshore Natural Gas Processing Plants

• 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart LLL – Standards of Performance for Onshore Natural Gas Processing: SO2 Emissions

• 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart HH – National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from Oil and Natural Gas Production Facilities

• 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart HHH – National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from Natural Gas Transmission and Storage Facilities

Numerous requests for an extension to the comment period have been received by U.S. EPA. Consequently, the comment period has been extended to November 30, 2011. A corrected comment period closing date of October 31, 2011 was published by U.S. EPA on October 20, 2011 to keep the public record open for 30 days following the last public hearing, which was on September 29, 2011. A key concern expressed by industry was the relatively short public comment period given U.S. EPA’s “sector-based” rulemaking strategy that proposed sweeping revisions to the four (4) separate rules. Please refer to the October 2011 4 The Record article for a summary of the proposed revisions.