Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule: Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems

<RULE> ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY <CFR>40 CFR Part 98</CFR> <DEPDOC>[EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0234; FRL-10246-02-OAR]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 2060-AV83</RIN> <SUBJECT>Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule: Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending requirements that apply to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to ensure that reporting is based on empirical data, accurately reflects total methane emissions and waste emissions from applicable facilities, and allows owners and operators of applicable facilities to submit empirical emissions data that appropriately demonstrate the extent to which a charge is owed under the Waste Emissions Charge. The EPA is also amending certain requirements that apply to the general provisions, general stationary fuel combustion, and petroleum and natural gas systems source categories of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to improve calculation, monitoring, and reporting of greenhouse gas data for petroleum and natural gas systems facilities. This action also establishes and amends confidentiality determinations for the reporting of certain data elements to be added or substantially revised in these amendments. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This rule is effective January 1, 2025, except for § 98.233 (amendatory instruction 12), § 98.236 (amendatory instruction 16), and § 98.238 (amendatory instruction 19) which are effective July 15, 2024. The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in this final rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of January 1, 2025. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID. No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0234. All documents in the docket are listed in the <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E> index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, <E T="03">e.g.,</E> confidential business information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E> or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. This Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744 and the telephone number for the Air Docket is (202) 566-1742. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Jennifer Bohman, Climate Change Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs (MC-6207A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9548; email address: <E T="03">GHGReporting@epa.gov.</E> For technical information, please go to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) website, <E T="03">https://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting.</E> To submit a question, select Help Center, followed by “Contact Us.” <E T="03">World Wide Web (WWW).</E> In addition to being available in the docket, an electronic copy of this final rule will also be available through the WWW. Following the Administrator's signature, a copy of this final rule will be posted on the EPA's GHGRP website at <E T="03">https://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <E T="03">Regulated entities.</E> These final revisions affect certain entities that must submit annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reports under the GHGRP (40 CFR part 98). These are amendments to existing regulations and will affect owners or operators of petroleum and natural gas systems that directly emit GHGs. Regulated categories and entities include, but are not limited to, those listed in table 1 of this preamble: <GPH SPAN="3" DEEP="166"> <GID>ER14MY24.000</GID> </GPH> Table 1 of this preamble is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding facilities likely to be affected by this action. This table lists the types of facilities that the EPA is now aware could potentially be affected by this action. Other types of facilities than those listed in the table could also be subject to reporting requirements. To determine whether you will be affected by this action, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria found in 40 CFR part 98, subpart A (General Provisions) and 40 CFR part 98, subpart W (Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems). If you have questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular facility, consult the person listed in the <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E> section. <E T="03">Acronyms and Abbreviations.</E> The following acronyms and abbreviations are used in this document. <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">AGR acid gas removal unit</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">AMLD Advanced Mobile Leak Detection</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> API American Petroleum Institute </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">AVO audio, visual, and olfactory</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">BOEM U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">BRE Bryan Research & Engineering</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">BSER best system of emissions reduction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Btu/scf British thermal units per standard cubic foot</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CAA Clean Air Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CBI confidential business information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CE combustion efficiency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CEMS continuous emissions monitoring system</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CenSARA Central States Air Resources Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> CH <E T="52">4</E>  methane </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> CO <E T="52">2</E> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CRR cost-to-revenue ratio</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DE destruction efficiency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DI&M directed inspection and maintenance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DOE Department of Energy (DOE)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DRE destruction and removal efficiency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">e-GGRT electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EG emission guidelines</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EIA U.S. Energy Information Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EOR enhanced oil recovery</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FAQ frequently asked question</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FLIGHT Facility Level Information on Greenhouse gases Tool</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FR Federal Register</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FTIR Fourier transform infrared</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GHG greenhouse gas</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GHGRP Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GOR gas to oil ratio</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">gpm gallons per minute</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GRI Gas Research Institute</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GT gas turbines</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HHV higher heating value</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ICR information collection request</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ID identification</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IRA Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IVT Inputs Verification Tool</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">kg/hr kilograms per hour</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LDAR leak detection and repair</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LDC local distribution company</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LNG liquefied natural gas</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">m meters</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MDEA methyl diethanolamine</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MEA monoethanolamine</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MMBtu/hr million British thermal units per hour</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MMscf million standard cubic feet</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">mt metric tons</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> mtCO <E T="52">2</E> e metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> N <E T="52">2</E> O nitrous oxide </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NAICS North American Industry Classification System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NGLs natural gas liquids</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NRU nitrogen recovery unit</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NSPS new source performance standards</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NYSERDA New York State Energy Research and Development Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">O&M operation and maintenance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OCS AQS Outer Continental Shelf Air Quality System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OEL open-ended line</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OEM original equipment manufacturer</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OGI optical gas imaging</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OMB Office of Management and Budget</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OTM other test method</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PBI proprietary business information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PHMSA U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ppm parts per million</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ppmv parts per million by volume</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PRA Paperwork Reduction Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PRD pressure relief device</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">psig pounds per square inch gauge</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PTE potential to emit</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RFI Request for Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RICE reciprocating internal combustion engines</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RY reporting year</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SCADA supervisory control and data acquisition</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">scf standard cubic feet</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">scf/hr/device standard cubic feet per hour per device</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TCEQ Texas Commission on Environmental Quality</FP> 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