The EPA has promulgated national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) to regulate hazardous air pollutant emissions from oil and natural gas production facilities that are area sources. The final national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for major sources was promulgated on June 17, 1999, but final action with respect to area sources was deferred. Oil and natural gas production is identified in the Urban Air Toxics Strategy as an area source category for regulation under section 112(c)(3) of the Clean Air Act because of benzene emissions from triethylene glycol dehydration units located at such facilities. The final rule also amends a general provision in the regulation to allow the use of an ASTM standard as an alternative test method to EPA Method 18 in the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From Oil and Natural Gas Production Facilities.
Entities potentially affected by this final rule include, but are not limited to, condensate tank batteries, glycol dehydration units, and natural gas processing plants (ref. 40 CFR part 63, subpart HH). The final rule is contained in 72 FR pp 26-43 (Vol. 72, No. 1).