In a final rule revision, the EPA has provided petroleum and natural gas facilities (Part 98, Subpart W) subject to the Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) with a burden-reduction option for detecting GHG leaks from equipment. The amendment would allow Subpart W reporters to use monitoring methods for detecting leaks from oil and gas (O&G) equipment consistent with methods EPA has included in its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the oil and natural gas sector (40 CFR Part 60, Subpart OOOOa, June 3, 2016, FR).
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The action also adds emission factors for leaking equipment (called leaker emission factors) to be used in conjunction with the monitoring methods to calculate and report GHG emissions resulting from equipment leaks.
Finally, the rule includes confidentiality determinations for new or substantially revised data reporting elements resulting from the above two revisions.