Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review: Extension of Deadlines in Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources

<RULE> ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY <CFR>40 CFR Part 60</CFR> <DEPDOC>[EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0162; FRL-12675-02-OAR]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 2060-AW61</RIN> <SUBJECT>Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review: Extension of Deadlines in Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to respond to comments on an interim final rule (IFR) related to the new source performance standards (NSPS) and emissions guidelines (EG) for crude oil and natural gas facilities established at 40 CFR part 60, subparts OOOOb and OOOOc. Specifically, the EPA is responding to comments on the IFR published in the <E T="04">Federal Register</E> on July 31, 2025, that extended deadlines for certain provisions related to control devices, equipment leaks, storage vessels, process controllers, and covers/closed vent systems; extended the date for future implementation of the Super Emitter Program (SEP); and extended the State plan submittal deadline in OOOOc. After carefully considering comments received and testimony provided at a public hearing, the EPA concludes that the amendments made in the IFR are warranted and is making further changes to the compliance deadlines in the IFR related to net heating value (NHV) monitoring and the initial reporting deadline. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This final rule is effective on December 3, 2025. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> The EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0162. All documents in the docket are available on the <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E> website. Although listed, 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 as pdf versions that can only be accessed on the EPA computers in the docket office reading room. Certain data bases and physical items cannot be downloaded from the docket but may be requested by contacting the docket office at (202) 566-1744. The docket office has up to 10 business days to respond to these requests. With the exception of such material, publicly available docket materials are available electronically in <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E> or on the EPA computers in the docket office reading room at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room Number 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the EPA Docket Center is (202) 566-1742. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Amy Hambrick, Sector Policies and Programs Division (E143-05), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12055, RTP, North Carolina 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-0964; and email address: <E T="03">hambrick.amy@epa.gov.</E> Additional questions may be directed to the following email address: <E T="03">O&GMethaneRule@epa.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <E T="03">Preamble acronyms and abbreviations.</E> Throughout this document the use of “we,” “us,” or “our” is intended to refer to the EPA. We use multiple acronyms and terms in this preamble. While this list may not be exhaustive, to ease the reading of this preamble and for reference purposes, the EPA defines the following terms and acronyms here: <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">BSER best system of emission reduction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CAA Clean Air Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CBI Confidential Business Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CRA Congressional Review Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CVS Closed Vent System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ECD Enclosed Combustion Device(s)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EG Emission Guideline</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EPA Environmental Protection Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FR Federal Register</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GHG greenhouse gases</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IFR Interim Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Low-E low-emissions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LPE Legally and Practically Enforceable</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NAICS North American Industry Classification System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NIE no identifiable emissions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NHV net heating value</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NSPS new source performance standards</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NTTAA National Technology Transfer and Advancement</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OAQPS Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OMB Office of Management and Budget</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OGI optical gas imaging</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PRA Paperwork Reduction Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RIA regulatory impact analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RIN Regulatory Information Number</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RTC Response to Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SEP Super Emitter Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SIC standard industrial classification</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TAR Tribal Authority Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TIP Tribal Implementation Plan</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TOC Total Organic Compound</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">U.S.C. United States Code</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">VE Visible Emission</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">VOC volatile organic compound</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. General Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Does this action apply to me?</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Where can I get a copy of this document and other related information?</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. What is the statutory authority for this final action?</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Judicial Review and Administrative Review</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Background and Summary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. What amendments did we make in the 2025 interim final rule for the Crude Oil and Natural Gas NSPS and EG, and what are our final conclusions in this final rule?</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Revised NSPS OOOOb for Control Devices</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Revised NSPS OOOOb for Covers and Closed Vent Systems</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Revised NSPS OOOOb for Equipment Leaks</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Revised NSPS OOOOb for Process Controllers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Revised NSPS OOOOb for Storage Vessels</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Revised NSPS OOOOb for Super Emitter Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Revised NSPS OOOOb for Flare Pilot Flame and Alarm Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Revised EG OOOOc for State Plan Submittal Deadline</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Additional Time for NSPS OOOOb Initial Annual Report</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Executive Order 14192: Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. General Information</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Does this action apply to me?</HD> The source category that is the subject of this final action is the Crude Oil and Natural Gas source category regulated under CAA section 111, New Source Performance Standards. Table 1 summarizes the 2024 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for the source category. <GPOTABLE COLS="3" OPTS="L2,nj,i1" CDEF="s75,12,r100"> <TTITLE>Table 1—Industrial Source Categories Affected by the NSPS and EG</TTITLE> <CHED H="1">Category</CHED> <CHED H="1">NAICS code</CHED> <CHED H="1">Examples of regulated entities</CHED> <ROW> <ENT I="01">Industry</ENT> <ENT>211120</ENT> <ENT>Crude Petroleum Extraction.</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="22"> </ENT> <ENT>211130</ENT> <ENT>Natural Gas Extraction.</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="22"> </ENT> <ENT>221210</ENT> <ENT>Natural Gas Distribution.</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="22"> </ENT> <ENT>486110</ENT> <ENT>Pipeline Distribution of Crude Oil.</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="22"> </ENT> <ENT>486210</ENT> <ENT>Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas.</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="01">Federal Government</ENT> <ENT O="xl"/> <ENT>Not affected.</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="01">State and Local Government</ENT> <ENT O="xl"/> <ENT>Affected.</ENT> </ROW> <ROW> <ENT I="01">Tribal Government</ENT> <ENT>921150</ENT> <ENT>American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments.</ENT> </ROW> </GPOTABLE> The NAICS codes outline the type of entities that this ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 77k characters. 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