Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, EPA was charged with regulating 188 sources of toxic air pollutants.  These toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), are pollutants which are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects such as birth defects or reproductive effects.  On July 16, 1992, EPA published a list of industry groups (known as source categories) that emit one or more of these hazardous air pollutants. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to develop standards that are based on stringent air pollution controls, known as maximum achievable control technology (MACT).   Oil and natural gas production and natural gas transmission and storage are source categories listed by EPA for regulation.

Emissions of HAPs from oil and natural gas production facilities and natural gas transmission and storage facilities occur during the separation, upgrade, transport, and storage of crude oil, condensate, natural gas, and related products and by-products. In addition, emissions occur as a result of vapor leaks from pumps, compressors, valves, flanges, and other equipment in liquid and gas service that contribute to emissions of hazardous air pollutants.

Emissions from various processes and operations at oil and natural gas facilities and natural gas transmission and storage facilities typically contain at least 5 different HAPs.  The primary HAPs emitted from these facilities are: benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and mixed xylenes, and n-hexane.

Approximately 440 of an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 facilities nationwide are affected by the final oil and natural gas production emission standards.  EPA is requiring affected facilities to apply existing and affordable control technologies to known emission points.   In addition, in an effort to increase flexibility, EPA is encouraging the use of pollution prevention to reduce emissions of HAPs from the process vents at glycol dehydration systems. These vents constitute the largest single identified HAP emission point for the oil and natural gas production source category.

Requirements for the oil and gas industry are monitored and enforced by each District Office of the Air Quality Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

List of Volatile Hazardous Air Pollutants 

Definition of "Facility"

Notification Letterto Facilities subject to the Oil and Natural Gas Production Facilities and Natural Gas Transmission and Storage Facilities NESHAP (4/16/01)

Initial Notification Report (EQP 3570):  Oil and Gas Production Facilities NESHAP (April 2001)

Initial Notification Report (EQP 3571): Natural Gas Transmission and Storage Facilities NESHAP (April 2001)

For More Information or Additional Assistance, contact the
Environmental Assistance Program  at 800-662-9278

Do you have an outreach idea or suggestion for our Program?  Please feel free to submit your requests to: David Fiedler.