40 CFR Part 98, Subpart W - Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending specific provisions in the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to streamline and improve implementation of the rule, to improve the quality and consistency of the data collected under the rule, and to clarify or provide minor updates to certain provisions that have been the subject of questions from reporting entities. This action also finalizes confidentiality determinations for certain data elements. In addition, this is the final action on reconsideration in response to a Petition for Reconsideration regarding specific aspects of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing revisions and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. In particular, this action adds new monitoring methods for detecting leaks from oil and gas equipment in the petroleum and natural gas systems source category consistent with the fugitive emissions monitoring methods in the recently finalized new source performance standards for the oil and gas industry. This action also adds emission factors for leaking equipment to be used in conjunction with these monitoring methods to calculate and report greenhouse gas emissions resulting from equipment leaks. Finally, this action finalizes reporting requirements and confidentiality determinations for nine new or substantially revised data elements contained in these amendments.

The EPA is proposing revisions and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). In particular, the EPA is proposing to add new monitoring methods for detecting leaks from oil and gas equipment in the petroleum and natural gas systems source category consistent with the leak detection methods in the recently proposed new source performance standards (NSPS) for the oil and gas industry. The EPA is also proposing to add emission factors for leaking equipment to be used in conjunction with these monitoring methods to calculate and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from equipment leaks. Further, the EPA is proposing reporting requirements and confidentiality determinations for nine new or substantially revised data elements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to amend specific provisions in the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to streamline and improve implementation of the rule, to improve the quality and consistency of the data collected under the rule, and to clarify or provide minor updates to certain provisions that have been the subject of questions from reporting entities. This action also proposes confidentiality determinations for the reporting of certain data elements to the program. This action also proposes action in response to a petition to reconsider specific aspects of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing new source performance standards (NSPS) under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111(b) that, for the first time, will establish standards for emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) for newly constructed, modified, and reconstructed affected fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating units (EGUs). This action establishes separate standards of performance for fossil fuel-fired electric utility steam generating units and fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbines. This action also addresses related permitting and reporting issues. In a separate action, under CAA section 111(d), the EPA is issuing final emission guidelines for states to use in developing plans to limit CO 2 emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired EGUs.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing revisions and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. These revisions include the addition of calculation methods and reporting requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from gathering and boosting facilities, completions and workovers of oil wells with hydraulic fracturing, and blowdowns of natural gas transmission pipelines between compressor stations. The revisions also include the addition of well identification reporting requirements to improve the EPA's ability to verify reported data and enhance transparency. This action also finalizes confidentiality determinations for new data elements contained in these amendments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled “Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: 2015 Revision and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems”. The public comment period for this proposal began on December 9, 2014. This document announces the extension of the deadline for public comment from February 9, 2015 to February 24, 2015.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on December 11, 2014 (79 FR 73750). The final rule amends the general provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to establish chemical-specific and default global warming potentials (GWPs) for a number of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHGs) and fluorinated heat transfer fluids (F-HTFs). The rule also includes conforming changes to the provisions for the Electronics Manufacturing and Fluorinated Gas Production source categories.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a change in date for the public hearing for the proposed rule titled “Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: 2015 Revision and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems”. The original public hearing date was December 24, 2014, and the new public hearing date will be January 8, 2015.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding chemical-specific and default global warming potentials (GWPs) for a number of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHGs) and fluorinated heat transfer fluids (F-HTFs) to the general provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Currently, these fluorinated GHGs and HTFs are not assigned GWPs under the rule. The changes will increase the completeness and accuracy of the carbon dioxide (CO 2 )-equivalent emissions calculated and reported by suppliers and emitters of fluorinated GHGs and HTFs. The EPA is also making conforming changes to the provisions for the Electronics Manufacturing and Fluorinated Gas Production source categories. In addition, the EPA is amending certain provisions of the Fluorinated Gas Production source category to reduce the level of detail in which emissions are reported, eliminate the mass-balance emission calculation method, and clarify the emission factor method. These amendments also include an alternative verification approach for this source category in lieu of collecting certain data elements for which the EPA has identified disclosure concerns and for which the reporting deadline was deferred until March 31, 2015. In addition, this action establishes confidentiality determinations for certain reporting requirements of the Fluorinated Gas Production source category.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. In particular, the EPA is proposing to add calculation methods and reporting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions from gathering and boosting facilities, completions and workovers of oil wells with hydraulic fracturing, and blowdowns of natural gas transmission pipelines between compressor stations. The EPA is also proposing well identification reporting requirements to improve the EPA's ability to verify reported data and enhance transparency. This action also proposes confidentiality determinations for new data elements contained in these proposed amendments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing revisions and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category and the general provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. These revisions include changes to certain calculation methods, amendments to certain monitoring and data reporting requirements, clarification of certain terms and definitions, and corrections to certain technical and editorial errors that have been identified during the course of implementation. This action also finalizes confidentiality determinations for new or substantially revised data elements contained in these amendments and revises the confidentiality determination for one existing data element.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add chemical-specific and default global warming potentials (GWPs) for a number of fluorinated greenhouse gases (GHGs) and fluorinated heat transfer fluids (HTFs) to the general provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Currently, these fluorinated GHGs and HTFs are not assigned GWPs under the rule. The proposed changes would increase the completeness and accuracy of the carbon dioxide (CO 2 )-equivalent emissions calculated and reported by suppliers and emitters of fluorinated GHGs and HTFs. In addition, the EPA is proposing conforming changes to the provisions for the Electronics Manufacturing and Fluorinated Gas Production source categories.

The EPA is proposing revisions and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category and the general provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. In particular, the EPA is proposing to revise certain calculation methods, amend certain monitoring and data reporting requirements, clarify certain terms and definitions, and correct certain technical and editorial errors that have been identified during the course of implementation. This action also proposes confidentiality determinations for new or substantially revised data elements contained in these proposed amendments, as well as proposes a revised confidentiality determination for one existing data element.

The EPA is announcing that the period for providing public comments on the January 8, 2014, proposed “Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units” and on the February 26, 2014, notice of data availability soliciting comment on the provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, is being extended by 60 days.

The EPA is issuing this NODA in support of the proposed rule titled “Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units” that was published on January 8, 2014. Through this NODA and the technical support document it references, the EPA solicits comment on its interpretation of the provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, including the federal tax credits contained in that Act, which limit the EPA's authority to rely on information from facilities that received assistance under that Act. The EPA believes those provisions do not alter the EPA's determination in the proposed rule that the best system of emission reduction for new fossil fuel-fired boiler and integrated gasification combined cycle electric utility generating units is partial carbon capture and sequestration.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on November 29, 2013. The final rule amended the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to implement technical corrections, clarifying revisions, and other amendments to improve the quality and consistency of the data collected by the EPA, including amendments to the Reporting Rule's table of global warming potentials to revise the values for certain greenhouse gases. An error in the regulatory text is identified and corrected in this action.

The EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled “Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: Amendments and Confidentiality Determinations for Fluorinated Gas Production.”

On April 13, 2012, the EPA proposed a new source performance standard for emissions of carbon dioxide for new affected fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating units. The EPA received more than 2.5 million comments on the proposed rule. After consideration of information provided in those comments, as well as consideration of continuing changes in the electricity sector, the EPA determined that revisions in its proposed approach are warranted. Thus, in a separate action, the EPA is withdrawing the April 13, 2012, proposal, and, in this action, the EPA is proposing new standards of performance for new affected fossil fuel-fired electric utility steam generating units and stationary combustion turbines. This action proposes a separate standard of performance for fossil fuel-fired electric utility steam generating units and integrated gasification combined cycle units that burn coal, petroleum coke and other fossil fuels that is based on partial implementation of carbon capture and storage as the best system of emission reduction. This action also proposes standards for natural gas-fired stationary combustion turbines based on modern, efficient natural gas combined cycle technology as the best system of emission reduction. This action also includes related proposals concerning permitting fees under Clean Air Act Title V, the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, and the definition of the pollutant covered under the prevention of significant deterioration program.

The EPA is amending the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to implement technical corrections, clarifying revisions, and other amendments to improve the quality and consistency of the data collected by the EPA. Among other changes, the EPA is amending the Rule's table of global warming potentials to revise the values for certain greenhouse gases. This action also establishes confidentiality determinations for the reporting of new or substantially revised data elements (i.e., requiring additional or different data to be reported) contained in these final amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule.

The EPA is proposing to amend certain provisions of the Fluorinated Gas Production source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. The proposed changes would reduce the level of detail in which emissions were reported, establish a new set of default global warming potentials, eliminate the mass-balance emission calculation method, and clarify the emission factor method. We are also proposing confidentiality determinations for the new and substantially revised reporting requirements of the Fluorinated Gas Production source category.

The EPA is amending the calculation and monitoring methodologies for electronics manufacturers covered by the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. These changes include revising certain calculation methods and adding a new method, amending data reporting requirements, and clarifying terms and definitions. The EPA is also making confidentiality determinations for new and revised data elements pertaining to electronics manufacturing. This rule also finalizes amendments to the general provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to remove entries for data elements that are being moved from reporting to recordkeeping.

The EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled “Revisions to Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, and Proposed Confidentiality Determinations under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.”

The EPA is proposing amendments to reporting and recordkeeping requirements and an alternative verification approach for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This action addresses concerns about the potential release of certain data that are inputs to emission equations for which the reporting deadline was deferred until March 31, 2015 while maintaining the EPA's ability to verify emissions and ensure compliance with the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. In addition, the EPA is proposing confidentiality determinations for the newly proposed data elements in this action.

The EPA is revising the deadline by which owners or operators of facilities subject to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule must submit requests for use of best available monitoring methods to the Administrator. This revision does not change any other requirements for owners or operators as outlined in the best available monitoring method rule provisions.

The EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled “Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: Proposed Amendments and Confidentiality Determinations for Subpart I.” In addition, the EPA is notifying the public that additional documentation related to this proposed rule was entered into the docket on November 8, 2012.

This action proposes amending the calculation and monitoring methodologies for the Electronics Manufacturing, of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Proposed changes include revising certain calculation methods and adding a new method, amending data reporting requirements, and clarifying terms and definitions. This action also proposes confidentiality determinations for the reporting of the new and revised data elements. Many of these proposed actions are in response to a petition to reconsider specific aspects of our regulations. This document also proposes amendments to the General Provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to reflect proposed changes to the reporting requirements for the Electronics Manufacturing sector.

The EPA is amending specific provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to provide greater clarity and flexibility to facilities subject to reporting emissions from the industrial waste landfill, petroleum and natural gas systems, fluorinated gas production, and electronics manufacturing source categories. These source categories will report greenhouse gas data for the first time in September 2012. The changes do not significantly change the overall calculation and monitoring requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule or add additional requirements for reporters. The EPA is also making confidentiality determinations for four new data elements for the fluorinated gas production source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Lastly, we are finalizing an amendment to the general provisions to defer the reporting deadline for a data element used as an input to an emission equation in the fluorinated gas production source category until 2015.

This action finalizes confidentiality determinations for certain data elements in regulations under the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. In addition, the EPA is finalizing amendments to defer the reporting deadline of certain data elements until 2013 and to defer the reporting deadline of certain data elements until 2015. Lastly, the EPA is finalizing amendments regarding the calculation and reporting of emissions from facilities that use best available monitoring methods. This action does not include final confidentiality determinations for data elements in the “Inputs to Emission Equations” data category.

The EPA is proposing to amend specific provisions of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to provide greater clarity and flexibility to facilities subject to reporting emissions from certain source categories. These source categories will report greenhouse gas (GHG) data for the first time in September of 2012. The proposed changes are not expected to significantly change the overall calculation and monitoring requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule or add additional requirements for reporters, but are expected to correct errors and clarify existing requirements in order to facilitate accurate and timely reporting. The EPA is also proposing confidentiality determinations for four new data elements for the fluorinated gas production source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. Lastly, we are proposing an amendment to Table A-7 of the general provisions to add a data element used as an input to an emission equation in the fluorinated gas production source category.

The EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled “Proposed Confidentiality Determinations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Source Category, and Amendments to Table A-7, of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule”.

This action re-proposes confidentiality determinations for the data elements in subpart W, the petroleum and natural gas systems category, of the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule. On July 7, 2010, the EPA proposed confidentiality determinations for then-proposed subpart W data elements and is now issuing this re-proposal due to significant changes to certain data elements in the final subpart W reporting requirements. The EPA is also proposing to assign 10 recently added reporting elements as “Inputs to Emission Equations” and to defer their reporting deadline to March 31, 2015, consistent with the agency's approach in the August 25, 2011 rule which finalized the deferral of some reporting data elements that are inputs to emissions equations.