Texas Agency Proposes New Rules for Oil, Gas Facilities
OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) --- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today
formally proposed new rules that will amend the regulations that govern oil and
gas facility equipment.
According to a news release, the rules will enhance control and regulation
in order to minimize emissions and ensure that public health is protected. The
proposal opens the Permit by Rule and Standard Permit package for formal
comment from the public and other stakeholders.
"This is the latest step in our efforts to ensure safe air quality in areas
where oil and gas production is ongoing," said TCEQ Chairman Bryan W. Shaw,
Ph.D. "The tremendous expansion of drilling in the Barnett Shale, in and around
urban areas, required our agency to take a closer look at the potential impacts
and protective measures that could be instituted to protect the public health
around these operations."
The rule proposal updates administrative and technical requirements and
includes enforceable monitoring, sampling, and record keeping requirements.
This proposal helps the agency make certain that oil and gas facilities are
properly operated and maintained, in order to continue to ensure that public
health is protected.
"Because natural gas provides an increasing amount of our nation's energy
demands, gas exploration and production in Texas will continue to grow," said
TCEQ Commissioner Buddy Garcia. "These new rules will help further protect
citizens from activities associated these operations."
As an adjunct to these rules, the TCEQ recently completed phase one of its
special inventory to determine the location, number and type of emissions
sources located at upstream and midstream oil and gas operations within the
Barnett Shale formation. The commission has received special inventory data
from companies that account for more than 99 percent of the 2009 production in
the Barnett Shale formation.
According to the release, phase two of the special inventory is undergoing
final tweaks and will begin this summer. It will require data on actual
emissions; emissions sources; proximity to nearest off-site receptor; existing
authorizations and other information.
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