Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Definitions of Low Pressure Gas Well and Storage Vessel

On July 17, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published proposed amendments to the new source performance standards (NSPS) for the Oil and Natural Gas Sector. One of the issues addressed in the proposed amendments was the EPA's proposed definition of ``low pressure gas well.'' A petitioner's timely submitted comment on the proposed amendments concerning the definition was, inadvertently, not made part of the record in the rulemaking docket and was, therefore, not available to be considered by the EPA when the agency finalized the definition of ``low pressure gas well'' in its December 19, 2014, final amendments to the NSPS. To correct the above mentioned procedural defect, the EPA is re-proposing its definition of ``low pressure gas well'' for notice and comment. The EPA is also soliciting comment on certain issues raised in the missed comment. We are also proposing to amend the NSPS to remove provisions concerning storage vessels connected or installed in parallel and to revise the definition of ``storage vessel''. The EPA is granting reconsideration of the issue.