Trump’s EPA Moves to Gut Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for New Oil & Gas Wells
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to dismantle even more environmental regulations put into place to help protect air quality and public health – this time giving a pass to polluters in the oil and gas industries.
GASP suspected this news was coming: We have blogged about the New Source Performance Standards for oil and gas production facilities here and here.
The first standard relates to facilities that were constructed or modified after December 6, 2022, and the second relates to facilities that were constructed or modified before that date.
Both sets of standards were intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas wells and associated equipment and operations.
After delaying implementation of the standards for several years, EPA on Oct. 27 proposed substantial revisions to both sets of standards that would roll back a substantial number of the limitations that they impose.
“We would be remiss if we didn’t note that EPA’s proposed revisions are largely based on petitions for reconsideration submitted by oil and natural gas producers and their representatives,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said.
The revisions to the standards are lengthy and relatively technical, but the gist of EPA’s proposed revisions is to:
Do away with the “Super Emitter” program, by which third parties that have been certified by EPA could detect and report large emissions of GHGs to EPA.
Revise (and relax) the standards’ requirements regarding liquids unloading, process controllers, pumps, fugitive emissions and equipment leaks, covers and closed vent systems, storage vessels, and emission control devices.
Allow the natural gas produced by oil wells to be flared, rather than requiring it to be captured and sold or used beneficially.
Create a separate category of wells with low production rates (which would be named either marginal wells or conventional wells) and subjecting such wells to much less stringent regulation.
EPA is accepting comments regarding its proposed revisions through Dec. 16.
GASP will be submitting comments condemning this newest assault on environmental and public health and we encourage folks who live near an oil and gas facility as well as anyone who concerned with the air quality and public health impacts of these rollbacks to consider letting the agency know you oppose the changes.
Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
The Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Email: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov. Include Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163 in the subject line of the message.
U.S. Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
If you do submit comments, you should identify them by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163.
Editor's Note: Need a little help getting started? We got you! Here's the GASP Guide to Crafting Effective Public Comments.
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