Administrator Zeldin Announces EPA is Days Away from Unveiling Next Oil & Gas Proposal

WASHINGTON – While at the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association’s annual meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that in the coming days the Trump EPA will be proposing the next part of the agency’s comprehensive reconsideration of the Biden Administration's 2024 oil and natural gas rules, also known as OOOOb/c. The agency’s proposal, which is part of a series of actions the Trump EPA is taking on Biden-era oil and natural gas regulations, is estimated to save $45 billion.  

During his speech, Administrator Zeldin highlighted the extensive reconsideration effort the agency has undergone to address widespread concerns from American energy producers and operators that the 2024 Rule is unworkable and is holding back American energy dominance. This effort is a stark contrast to the $18 billion in regulatory costs the Biden EPA’s rule imposed without providing the environmental benefits promised.  

“The Trump EPA is days not weeks away from announcing our proposal for the second part of the oil and gas reconsideration. This proposal takes on many of the problems American producers and operators have raised with us. That includes the burden on marginal wells and oil and gas operators in general, the Super Emitter Program, associated gas, and control device requirements,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “Americans must be able to afford to heat their homes in the winter and fill up their car and drive to work. They can’t do that when the people producing the energy are weighed down by unnecessary burdens. The Trump EPA is committed to fixing this so the U.S. can reach its full energy potential.” 

Behind every barrel of oil and every cubic foot of natural gas produced in the U.S. are millions of workers, businesses, and the heartbeat of this nation’s economy; the Biden-era regulations posed a monumental threat. As a result, Americans in every state suffered from higher energy prices. The U.S. produces energy in a better and more environmentally friendly way than anywhere else in the world. The Trump EPA knows our policies must match our nation’s potential and is working to unleash the full ability of American energy by returning commonsense to regulations.  

What Americans Can Expect to See in the Upcoming Proposal:  

• Certain Well Sites: EPA will propose to change the approach to marginal wells by co-proposing two options that would create separate categories of well sites, each with its own standards that make sense for the circumstances of the particular type of well. 

• Super Emitter Program: After hearing about serious legal concerns with the program, EPA will propose to rescind it. The agency does not think it is necessary to meet Clean Air Act requirements and is not effective.  

• Covers and Closed Vent Systems: EPA will propose to split this standard into two parts, design requirements and operational requirements.  

• Associated Gas: To make compliance possible all over the country and ensure a reasonable approach, EPA will propose to revisit the overall approach to regulating associated gas from oil wells.  

• Control Devices: EPA will propose technical changes to give flexibility for flame monitoring data deviations, control device alerts, and visible emissions test conditions where appropriate. 

For a full timeline of EPA’s oil and gas reconsideration, click here.