Article Summary –
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated its methane emissions reporting requirements for oil and gas operations to ensure greater transparency and accountability for methane pollution. The agency has claimed that these facilities are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, a climate “super pollutant” that is far more potent than carbon dioxide. The revised rule aims to bridge the gap between actual and reported emissions by facilitating the use of satellite data to identify super-emitters, requiring direct monitoring of key emission sources, and updating calculation methods.
EPA’s New Rule Updates Methane Emissions Reporting
The EPA has updated its methane emissions reporting requirements for oil and gas operations this week. This coincides with a House Committee hearing into the EPA’s latest rule regarding chemical firms.
The final revisions, according to the EPA, will improve transparency, accountability, and the accuracy of annual methane emissions reporting from oil and natural gas facilities. Methane, a potent climate pollutant, contributes significantly to global warming and is largely emitted from these industries.
This step forms part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Plan, which aims to slash methane emissions from all sectors. In 2023 alone, the administration coordinated nearly 100 actions to bolster methane detection and reduction in various industries, including oil and gas.
The updated Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is a crucial part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program. This program supports states, industry, and communities in implementing Clean Air Act methane standards and reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas industry. Concurrently, over $1 billion is being mobilized to speed up the transition to low-emitting oil and gas technologies.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated that the EPA is employing advanced technology and expertise to track and measure methane emissions. This combined approach of rigorous standards, monitoring, reporting, and investments will help the U.S. spearhead the global transition to a clean energy economy.
Studies show that actual emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems are much higher than reported. The new rule addresses this discrepancy by using satellite data to identify super-emitters, requiring direct monitoring of significant emission sources, and updating calculation methods.
Together with the recently finalized Clean Air Act standards, the updated reporting rule is expected to significantly reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants. A Super-Emitter Program was established to detect large leaks, and the new rule will require owners to quantify and report detected emissions, thus bridging the gap between observed and reported methane emissions.
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