EPA announces updated methane reduction plan at COP27
On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced at the United Nation’s COP27 climate change conference in Eqypt plans to strengthen its standards to cut methane emissions.
The proposed standards, an update of a proposal the EPA released in November 2021, reflect input and feedback from nearly half a million public comments and a broad range of stakeholders. The updates, among other things, would promote the use of innovative methane detection technologies and other cutting-edge solutions. Further, it includes a groundbreaking “Super-Emitter Response Program” that would require operators to respond to credible third-party reports of high-volume methane leaks.
According to the EPA, the supplemental proposal, if finalized, would reduce methane from covered sources by 87 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels and reduce an estimated 36 million tons of methane emissions from 2023 to 2035.
“The United States is once again a global leader in confronting the climate crisis, and we must lead by example when it comes to tackling methane pollution – one of the biggest drivers of climate change. We’re listening to public feedback and strengthening our proposed oil and gas industry standards, which will enable innovative new technology to flourish while protecting people and the planet,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. “Our stronger standards will work hand-in-hand with the historic level of resources from the Inflation Reduction Act to protect our most vulnerable communities and to put us on a path to achieve President Biden’s ambitious climate goals.”
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps about 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide, on average, over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere. It is responsible for approximately one-third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today. Oil and natural gas operations are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane.
Key features of the supplemental proposal would:
- Ensure that all well sites are routinely monitored for leaks at less cost and until they are closed properly;
- Provide industry flexibility to use innovative and cost-effective methane detection technologies and a streamlined process for approving new detection methods as they become available;
- Leverage data from remote sensing technology to quickly identify and fix large methane leaks;
- Require that flares are properly operated to reduce emissions and revise requirements for associated gas flaring;
- Establish emission standards for dry seal compressors, which are currently unregulated; and
- Set a zero-emissions standard for pneumatic controllers and pneumatic pumps at affected facilities in all segments of the industry.
In addition, the supplemental proposal includes requirements for states to develop plans to limit methane emissions from hundreds of thousands of existing sources nationwide. Those plans must be submitted within 18 months after the final rule is issued.
The proposal has sparked reaction across the energy industry. The American Petroleum Institute (API) said it will work with the EPA to support a cost-effective final rule that promotes innovation and creates the regulatory certainty needed for long-term planning.
“API’s member companies are continuously advancing and deploying new technology to improve methane detection and reduction, and we support efforts to promote this innovation rather than inhibiting it with overly prescriptive red tape,” API Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola said. “Our industry is taking action, and as a result, methane emissions relative to production fell 60% from 2011 to 2020. Industry-led initiatives like The Environmental Partnership are helping to continue that progress with the goal of further reducing methane emissions in every major U.S. basin.”
The Edison Edison Electric Institute (EEI) applauded the proposal and is eager to work with the EPA to develop final regulations for methane emissions.
“We are focused on customer affordability and reliability as we work to get the energy we provide as clean as we can as fast as we can. Natural gas plays a vital role as a flexible complement to variable energy sources like solar and wind, helping to ensure reliability as we accelerate the deployment of renewables. Federal regulations on methane emissions across the value chain are essential to ensuring the continued use of natural gas as a 24/7 on-demand energy source,” EEI President Tom Kuhn said.
The EPA will take comment on the supplemental proposal until Feb. 13, 2023. Also, the EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on Jan. 10 and 11, 2023.
