40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOOa — Standards of Performance for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities for Which Construction, Modification or Reconstruction Commenced After September 18, 2015 and On or Before December 6, 2022

40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOOa

40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOOa — Standards of Performance for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities for Which Construction, Modification or Reconstruction Commenced After September 18, 2015 and On or Before December 6, 2022

This is a federal EPA air quality standard that applies to oil and gas facilities (including wells, compressor stations, and processing plants) if construction, modification, or reconstruction started after September 18, 2015 and on or before December 6, 2022. It sets emission limits and operational requirements for equipment like pneumatic controllers, storage tanks, and compressors to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane. If your facility or equipment was built or modified during that window, you must follow the specific control, monitoring, and reporting rules in this subpart.

§ 60.5360a(a)

§ 60.5360a(a) Scope

This federal subpart sets emission limits for methane (a greenhouse gas), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from oil and gas facilities that were built, modified, or reconstructed after September 18, 2015 and on or before December 6, 2022. It applies to affected facilities in the crude oil and natural gas source category. The methane limit applies to facilities that commenced construction, modification, or reconstruction after September 18, 2015 (no end date stated for methane in this text).

§ 60.5360a(b)(1)

§ 60.5360a(b)(1)

This provision clarifies that for purposes of federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting rules, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from facilities covered by this subpart are considered "subject to regulation under the Act" as that term is defined in the federal PSD regulations and in any EPA-approved State Implementation Plan that incorporates that definition. In practical terms, it means GHG emissions from these oil and gas sources can trigger PSD permitting requirements under the Clean Air Act's preconstruction review program.

§ 60.5360a(b)(2)

§ 60.5360a(b)(2)

This is a technical cross-reference provision that clarifies how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from affected facilities under this subpart are treated for purposes of federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting rules. It says that for PSD purposes, the "pollutant subject to the standard" under this subpart is considered to be the pollutant that is otherwise regulated under the Clean Air Act as defined in the PSD regulations. This is primarily a definitional clarification for federal air permitting and does not impose a direct operational requirement on facilities.

§ 60.5360a(b)(3)

§ 60.5360a(b)(3)

This provision clarifies that for Title V operating permit purposes (under 40 CFR Part 70), greenhouse gas emissions from affected facilities under this subpart count as a "pollutant subject to regulation" – meaning facilities emitting greenhouse gases covered by this subpart may trigger Title V permitting requirements based on those emissions.