On April 17, 2012, The US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)issued a set of comprehensive regulatory standards for the oil
and gas industry under the Clean Air Act, requiring the reduction
of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), air toxics and
methane from sources in the industry, including the hydraulic
fracturing of horizontal natural gas wells drilled or hydraulically
re-fractured after August 23, 2011. Although the final rule
subjects air emissions from other processes and equipment to
regulation, the regulation of emissions associated with hydraulic
fracturing for natural gas has drawn the most attention.
Summary
In response to a consent decree in a suit filed by environmental
groups, EPA issued New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for VOCs
and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAP) for oil and natural gas production. EPA has now set
NSPS for hydraulically fractured natural gas wells and for related
associated
