The Environmental Protection Agency proposed new regulations Thursday that it said would dramatically reduce polluting emissions from oil and natural gas operations, with "a net savings to the industry of tens of millions of dollars annually from the value of natural gas that no longer would escape in the air."
The regulations would apply to new wells that are hydraulically fractured to stimulate greater production, as well as older wells that are re-fractured. They would also cover facilities such as natural gas processing plants, gas compressor stations and storage tanks at well sites."Reducing these emissions will help cut toxic pollution that can increase cancer risks and smog that can cause asthma attacks and premature death -- all while giving these [oil and gas] operators additional product to bring to market," EPA official Gina McCarthy said in a statement.The regulations would take effect Feb. 28 after a comment period that would include public hearings "in the Dallas, Denver and Pittsburgh areas," the agency said. Specific dates and locations will be announced later.The regulations are expected to have considerable impact in North Texas' natural gas-rich Barnett Shale.A recent in-depth study commissioned by the city of Fort Worth showed that there were no "significant health threats" posed by air pollution from operations in the gas field, but recommended specific measures to further reduce emissions.The proposed EPA regulations would require "green completions" of wells to capture more emissions and increase the use of equipment such as "low-bleed" pneumatic valves and vapor recovery units to reduce leaks.The goal is to curb emissions of volatile organic compounds that contribute to formation of harmful ground-level ozone and to reduce leaks of methane, a greenhouse gas and the primary component of natural gas. Emissions of "air toxics," such as cancer-causing benzene, would also be reduced, the EPA said.Dallas-Fort Worth is in violation of the federal air quality standard for ozone."It looks like the EPA has been reading our e-mail," said Libby Willis, president of the Fort Worth League of Neighborhood Associations, which has voiced concern about emissions from natural gas operations.Fort Worth is at the epicenter of Barnett Shale drilling activity that has made Tarrant County the leading natural gas producer among Texas' 254 counties.The EPA action is "more validation of things we and others have been saying," Willis said."It looks like it can be only a good thing."Oil and gas industry representatives were more reserved, saying that further study of the agency proposal is needed and that various emissions-reduction measures are already being used by well operators where feasible.Chip Minty, a spokesman for Devon Energy, the leading producer in the Barnett Shale, said the company does green completions of wells "where they are viable," including "the vast majority of our wells in the Barnett Shale." He also said "our new producing sites are routinely equipped with ... low-bleed valves."Minty said Devon must study the EPA proposal in more depth "before we can formulate an opinion" of it.Environmental groups issued statements praising the EPA announcement."EPA's proposed clean-air protections are a trifecta," said Ramon Alvarez, an Austin-based senior scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund.The regulations will "reduce harmful air pollution, prevent waste of a domestic energy source and pay back the companies by preventing leaks and venting of natural gas, a valuable commodity."State Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, called the proposed regulations "great news.""I applaud the EPA for these common-sense proposals that will improve air quality and reduce smog pollution in the Barnett Shale," he said.Jack Z. Smith, 817-390-7724Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
