(Pennsylvania) Framework of Actions for Methane Reductions from the Oil and Gas Sector

Country / jurisdiction: United States · Year: 2019 · Status: In force · Level: State/Provincial · Type: Voluntary

In 2019, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection published the Framework to outline its future methane actions, in accordance with certain new guidelines released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The new actions include:

Issue a General Permit to replace the August 2013 Category No. 38 conditional permit exemption criteria issued for oil and gas exploration, development, and production facilities including well pads.

Revise the current general permit for new and modified Natural Gas Compression and/or Processing Facilities (GP-5) such that it becomes the model for other states.

Develop a regulation for consideration by the Environmental Quality Board that establishes stringent requirements for existing sources in the Oil and Natural Gas Industry.

Establish best management practices, including LDAR programs, to reduce fugitive CH4 emissions from production, gathering, processing, and transmission facilities.

Official source: https://files.dep.state.pa.us/air/AirQuality/AQPortalFiles/Methane/DEP%20Methane%20Strategy%201-19-2016%20PDF.pdf