82 FR 12817 - Notice Regarding Withdrawal of Obligation To Submit Information

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 43 (March 7, 2017)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing notice that it is withdrawing its requests that owners and operators in the oil and natural gas industry provide information on equipment and emissions at existing oil and gas operations.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 12817]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04458]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9959-96-OAR]


Notice Regarding Withdrawal of Obligation To Submit Information

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing notice 
that it is withdrawing its requests that owners and operators in the 
oil and natural gas industry provide information on equipment and 
emissions at existing oil and gas operations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Tsirigotis, Director, Sector 
Policies & Programs Division, Office of Air Quality Planning & 
Standards, Office of Air & Radiation, Mail code D205-01, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27709; 1-888-372-8696; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2016, EPA sent letters to more than 
15,000 owners and operators in the oil and gas industry, requiring them 
to provide information. The information request comprised two parts: An 
``operator survey'' that asked for basic information on the numbers and 
types of equipment at onshore oil and gas production facilities in the 
United States, and a ``facility survey'' asking for more detailed 
information on sources of methane emissions and emissions control 
devices or practices in use by a representative sampling of facilities 
in several segments of the oil and gas industry. EPA is withdrawing 
both parts of the information request.
    The withdrawal is occurring because EPA would like to assess the 
need for the information that the agency was collecting through these 
requests, and reduce burdens on businesses while the Agency assesses 
such need. This also comes after the Agency received a letter on March 
1, 2017 from nine state Attorneys General and the Governors of 
Mississippi and Kentucky, expressing concern with the burdens on 
businesses imposed by the pending requests. EPA takes these concerns 
seriously and is committed to strengthening its partnership with the 
states.
    The withdrawal was effective upon announcement on March 2, 2017. As 
such, owners and operators--including those who have received an 
extension to their due dates for providing the information--are no 
longer required to respond.

    Dated: March 2, 2017.
E. Scott Pruitt,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-04458 Filed 3-2-17; 4:15 pm]
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