API Supports EPA Decision to Roll Back Obama-Era Clean Air Standards
The American Petroleum Institute (API) today released the following statement in support of the EPA’s amendments to its oil and gas air emissions standards and the proposed withdrawal of EPA’s 2016 emissions guidance (Control Technique Guidelines).
“We welcome EPA’s technical modifications to its NSPS OOOOa rule and the proposal to withdraw the CTGs, which will provide regulatory certainty for our industry,” API’s Senior Director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Howard Feldman said. “We are hopeful EPA makes additional improvements to ensure that its rules are science-based and cost-effective. Ozone concentrations and methane emissions are down significantly and air quality continues to improve thanks in part to increased use of domestic natural gas and industry investments in advancing technology.”
According to EPA data, methane emissions from natural gas production were reduced by 16.3 percent from 1990-2015, while natural gas production rose 55 percent. Since 1990, America’s oil and gas industry has invested $322 billion to improve the environmental performance of its products, facilities and operations. Between 2000 and 2014, about $90 billion in new zero- or low-emissions technologies was invested– more than twice that of the next closest industry sector and nearly as much as the federal government. Total U.S. emissions of volatile organic compounds have already decreased by 41 percent since 1990 under the current rules.
“API supports EPA following the science and also recognizing the results that state and federal regulations already achieve,” said Feldman. “EPA’s data show that as U.S. oil and natural gas production has increased, industry has been reducing methane emissions. These trends are indicative of what our industry has achieved, primarily due to industry leadership, expanded voluntary efforts and technological innovation, which will continue to help to improve the environment and bolster our nation’s energy security.”
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