[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39934-39935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17042]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505; FRL-9174-8]


Oil and Natural Gas Sector--Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: EPA will be conducting public meetings to provide an 
opportunity for public involvement during EPA's review of air 
regulations affecting the oil and natural gas industry. The review in 
progress covers oil and natural gas exploration and production, as well 
as natural gas processing, transmission, storage, and distribution. The 
primary purpose of these meetings is to establish a dialog among 
government, the affected industry, and other interested members of the 
public early in the rule development process, as well as to receive 
information that may be useful to EPA in its review. At these meetings, 
EPA will explain the regulatory process, provide a brief overview of 
its regulatory review, solicit information that may be useful to EPA in 
the review of these rules, and provide an opportunity for participants 
to ask questions and submit comments. These meetings will be open to 
the public.

DATES: Meetings: There will be daytime and evening meetings to provide 
greater public access. The first pair of meetings will be held on 
August 2, 2010, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., in the 
Council Chamber of the Arlington Municipal Building, Arlington, Texas. 
The second pair of meetings will be held on August 3, 2010, from 12 
p.m. to 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., in the ballroom of the Holiday 
Inn Denver East-Stapleton, Denver, Colorado. Meetings may end earlier 
than the scheduled times based on participation.
    Participation: Although not required for attendance, we ask that 
anyone who plans to attend one or more of the meetings provide name, 
affiliation, and sessions attending to the meeting information contact 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least

[[Page 39935]]

10 days prior to the meeting. However, anyone who wishes to present 
comments at any of the meetings must notify the meeting information 
contact at least 10 days prior to the meeting to facilitate EPA in 
developing the agenda. We request that an electronic or hard copy of 
any prepared comments be provided to EPA at the time of the meeting.
    Special Accommodations: To request accommodation of a disability, 
please contact the meeting information contact listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT, preferably at least 10 days prior to the meeting, 
to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request.

ADDRESSES: The August 2, 2010, meetings will be held at the Arlington 
Municipal Building, 101 W. Abram St., Arlington, Texas 76010. The 
August 3, 2010, meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn Denver East-
Stapleton, 3333 Quebec St., Denver, Colorado 80207.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the EPA Oil and 
Natural Gas Sector Program, contact: Mr. Bruce Moore, Sector Policies 
and Programs Division (E143-01), Office of Air Quality Planning and 
Standards, Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., 
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone number: (919) 
541-5460; fax number: (919) 541-0246; e-mail address: 
[email protected]. For meeting information, contact: Mr. Nick 
Parsons, Sector Policies and Programs Division (E143-01), Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards, Environmental Protection Agency, 109 
T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; 
telephone number: (919) 541-5372; fax number: (919) 541-0246; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

Does this action apply to me?

    EPA is in the process of reviewing air regulations affecting the 
oil and natural gas industry. This review may potentially affect any 
segment of the oil and natural gas industry, which includes, but is not 
limited to: Offshore drilling; onshore drilling; oil and natural gas 
production; natural gas processing; natural gas transmission; and 
natural gas distribution. You may be affected in some way by regulatory 
action following this review if you own, operate, work, or live near 
oil and natural gas operations in the segments listed above.
    Docket. EPA has established a docket for the above mentioned review 
process under Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505. Publicly available 
docket materials are available either electronically through 
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center, Public 
Reading Room, EPA West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room 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.

II. Background

    Under sections 111(b)(1)(B), 112(d)(6), and 112(f)(2) of the Clean 
Air Act (CAA), EPA has a mandatory duty to take actions relative to the 
review/revision of new source performance standards (NSPS) and national 
emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) within 8 years 
of the issuance of the standards. On January 14, 2009, WildEarth 
Guardians and San Juan Citizens Alliance brought suit against EPA in 
the District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging that EPA 
failed to meet its obligations under sections 111(b)(1)(B), 112(d)(6), 
and 112(f)(2) of the CAA with respect to the Oil and Natural Gas 
Production source category. On February 4, 2010, the Court entered a 
consent decree that resolves the claims in this lawsuit. The consent 
decree requires, among other things, that EPA sign by January 31, 2011, 
proposed standards and/or determinations not to issue standards 
pursuant to sections 111(b)(1)(B), 112(d)(6), and 112(f)(2) of the CAA, 
and that EPA finalize its proposals by November 30, 2011. The consent 
decree authorizes EPA to sign by January 31, 2011, a final 
determination not to review the NSPS pursuant to section 111(b)(1)(B) 
of the CAA without issuing a proposal for such determination.
    EPA is in the process of taking actions under CAA sections 111 and 
112 relative to the review/revision of the following NSPS and NESHAP: 
The NSPS for Equipment Leaks of VOC from Onshore Natural Gas Processing 
Plants (40 CFR part 60, subpart KKK); the NSPS for Onshore Natural Gas 
Processing: SO2 Emissions (40 CFR part 60, subpart LLL); the 
NESHAP From Oil and Natural Gas Production Facilities (40 CFR part 63, 
subpart HH); and the NESHAP From Natural Gas Transmission and Storage 
Facilities (40 CFR part 63, subpart HHH). As part of this process, EPA 
is holding public meetings in the Dallas, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, 
areas, both of which are in regions significantly affected by oil and 
natural gas production operations. The purpose of these meetings is to 
establish a dialog among government, the affected industry, and other 
interested members of the public, as well as to receive information 
that may be useful to EPA in its review of the NSPS and NESHAP 
identified above. Such information could include information regarding 
the nature of local oil and gas production operations, air emissions 
from oil and gas production operations, control technologies and/or 
practices that may minimize or otherwise address air emissions, and 
information on the public health, welfare, and other environmental 
impacts of air emissions from oil and gas production operations. At 
these meetings, EPA plans to provide a brief overview of the Agency's 
review process for the NSPS and NESHAP identified above, including 
background information on these regulations. There will also be 
opportunities for questions and answers. In addition, any interested 
party from industry or the general public may present oral or written 
information to EPA at these meetings.

    Dated: July 7, 2010.
Mary E. Henigin,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2010-17042 Filed 7-12-10; 8:45 am]
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