Reducing Volatile Organic Compounds and Methane in Pennsylvania

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Suspension of Enforcement – Oil and Gas 1st Annual Report

The regulations for “Control of VOC Emissions from Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas Sources” were published as a final-form rulemaking at 52 Pa.B. 7587 on December 10, 2022 (25 Pa. Code §§ 129.121 – 129.130). The regulations for “Control of VOC Emissions from Conventional Oil and Natural Gas Sources” were also published on December 10, 2022 at 52 Pa.B. 7635 as an emergency certified final-omitted rulemaking (25 Pa. Code §§ 129.131-129.140).

Both regulations require annual reporting of specific compliance information. The initial annual report is due for Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas sources on December 10, 2023 addressing the time period of December 10, 2022 thru December 31, 2022. The initial annual report for Conventional Oil and Natural Gas sources is due December 2, 2023 addressing the time period of December 2, 2022 thru December 31, 2022.

The Department is providing this notice that it is suspending the enforcement of the initial annual report submission under 25 Pa. Code §§129.130(k)(1) for Unconventional and 129.140(k)(1) for Conventional until June 1, 2024, the date when the second report is due. That second report will cover the full 2023 calendar year.

Pennsylvania Bulletin

Emergency Final-Omitted Rulemaking: Control of VOC Emissions from Conventional Oil and Natural Gas Sources (25 Pa. Code Chapter 129)

• Executive Summary (PDF)
  • Preamble (PDF)
  • Annex A (PDF)
  • Comment Response Document (PDF)
    • Commentator List (PDF)
  • Regulatory Analysis Form (PDF)
  • Emergency Certification (PDF)

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, has been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the second-most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted in the United States from human activities.

With federal estimates that the natural gas and oil industries account for a quarter of U.S. methane emissions, reducing methane leaks from the oil and gas sector is one of the essential steps needed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the impacts of climate change.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has undertaken several steps to reduce methane leakage from oil and gas wells and transmission infrastructure. This includes updated permits for new oil and gas well sites that establish a threshold for methane emissions for the first time.

DEP has also pursued regulations for existing oil and gas wells and infrastructure. These regulations require operators to identify and stop leaks in their equipment that can allow methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to escape into the atmosphere. While the regulations specifically target VOCs, reducing leaks of any gas from wells and pipelines will reduce methane emissions as well.

November 30, 2022: Environmental Quality Board Meeting

• Final-Omitted Rulemaking: Control of VOC Emissions from Conventional Oil and Natural Gas Sources (25 Pa. Code Chapter 129)
  • PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
  • Preamble (PDF)
  • Annex A (PDF)
  • Comment Response Document (PDF)
    • Commentator List (PDF)
  • Regulatory Analysis Form (PDF)
  • Emergency Certification (PDF)
  
  

  October 12, 2022: Environmental Quality Board Meeting

  • Final Rulemaking: Control of VOC Emissions from Conventional Oil and Natural Gas Sources (25 Pa. Code Chapter 129)
  • PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
  • Executive Summary (PDF)
  • Preamble (PDF)
  • Annex A (PDF)
  • Comment Response Document (PDF)
  • Commentator List (PDF)
  • Regulatory Analysis Form (PDF)
  
  

  June 14, 2022: Environmental Quality Board Meeting

  • Final Rulemaking: Control of VOC Emissions from Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas Sources (25 Pa. Code Chapters 121 and 129)
    • PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
    • Executive Summary (PDF)
    • Preamble (PDF)
    • Annex A (PDF)
    • Comment Response Document (PDF)
      • Commentator List (PDF)
    • Regulatory Analysis Form (PDF)
    
    

    December 17, 2019: Environmental Quality Board Meeting

    • Proposed Rulemaking: Control of VOC Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Sources (25 Pa. Code Chapters 121 and 129)
      • PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
        
      • Executive Summary (PDF)
        
      • Preamble (PDF)
      • Annex A (PDF)
      • Regulatory Analysis Form (PDF)
      • Citizens Advisory Council Letter June 18, 2019 (PDF)
      • Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee Letter April 17, 2019 (PDF)
      • Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee Letter April 11, 2019 (PDF)
        
    
    

    Final Permits and Supporting Documents

    • Final GP-5 (PDF) (6/9/18)
    • Final GP-5A (PDF) (6/9/18)
    • Final Exemption 38 (PDF) (6/9/18)
    • Comment and Response Document Round 1 (PDF) (6/9/18)
    • Comment and Response Document Round 2 (PDF) (6/9/18)
    • Technical Support Document (PDF) (6/9/18)
    • Webinar: Controlling Methane and Air Pollution from Natural Gas Sources - The Pennsylvania Playbook (PDF) (6/8/18)
    • Webinar: Controlling Methane and Air Pollution from Natural Gas Sources - The Pennsylvania Playbook (WMV, 37 MB) (6/8/18)
    
    

    March 2018

    • Draft-Final GP-5 (PDF)
      
    • Draft-Final GP-5A (PDF)
    • Draft-Final Exemption 38 (PDF)
      
    
    

    November 2017

    • Draft-Final GP-5 Proposed Revisions (PDF)
      
    • Draft-Final GP-5A Proposed Revisions (PDF)
    • Draft-Final Exemption 38 (PDF)
    • Methane Webinar: Overview of Draft Final Revisions to GP-5A and GP-5, November 30, 2017 (PDF) 
    • Methane Webinar: Overview of Draft Final Revisions to GP-5A and GP-5, November 30, 2017 (WMV, 49 MB) 
    • Methane Webinar: Overview of Draft Final Revisions to GP-5A and GP-5, November 30, 2017 (MP4, 5 MB) 
    
    

    January 2016

    • Briefing Paper (PDF)
    • Briefing Paper - Appendix (PDF)
    • Methane Webinar from Jan. 20, 2016 (MP4) 5.79MB
    • Methane Webinar from Jan. 20, 2016 (WMV) 96MB
    • Methane Webinar from Jan. 20, 2016 (PDF)
    • Facebook Town Hall
    
    

    New GP-5A, Revision to GP-5 and Revision to Air Quality Permit Exemptions Document
    

    On June 9, 2018, issued:

    1. A new General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Unconventional Natural Gas Well Site Operations and Remote Pigging Stations (BAQ-GPA/GP-5A or GP-5A)
       
    2. Revisions to the existing General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Natural Gas Compressor Stations, Processing Plants and Transmission Stations (BAQ-GPA/GP-5 or GP-5) originally issued in Feb. 2013, and modified in Jan. 2015
       
    3. Revisions to the Air Quality Permit Exemptions document (275-2101-003), previously amended on August 10, 2013  
       

    The General Permits establish Best Available Technology (BAT) requirements and other applicable Federal and State requirements including air emission limits, source testing, leak detection and repair, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for the applicable air contamination sources.

    The GP-5A was developed under the authority of section 6.1(f) of the Air Pollution Control Act (35 P.S. § 4006.1(f)) and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 127, Subchapter H (relating to general plan approvals and operating permits), and is applicable to unconventional natural gas well site operations and remote pigging stations. 

    The revised GP-5 was developed under the authority of section 6.1(f) of the Air Pollution Control Act and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 127, Subchapter H, and is applicable to natural gas compressor stations and processing plants and transmission stations.