Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions; Congressional Review Act Revocation
Summary
This EPA regulation establishes how oil and natural gas companies must report and pay charges on methane emissions that leak from their operations. The rule includes procedures for companies to reduce what they owe through various compliance methods and exemptions, and revokes a previous version that Congress had challenged.
Key Points
- 1Oil and natural gas companies must pay a fee based on the amount of methane gas they release into the atmosphere
- 2Companies can reduce their charges by capturing emissions, making improvements, or combining emissions from different facilities in certain ways
- 3The rule provides specific exemptions for very small producers and facilities that already meet emission standards
- 4This replaces an earlier version of the rule that faced Congressional opposition
- 5The regulation aims to encourage energy companies to invest in technology that prevents methane leaks and reduces air pollution
Impact Assessment
If you work in or own an oil and natural gas company, this means you must track, report, and pay fees on methane emissions from your operations, though you may be able to reduce costs through approved compliance methods and exemptions.
National
Significant
Key Dates
May 19, 2025
Regulatory Connections
Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations: California; Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program
Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations: Kentucky; Emissions Inventory and Nonattainment New Source Review for the Henderson-Webster Sulfur Dioxide Nonattainment Area
State Implementation Plan: Utah; Northern Wasatch Front; 2015 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area Boundary Expansion and Applicability of Certain Clean Air Act Requirements
State Implementation Plan: Due Date for the Regional Haze Third Implementation Period
This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.