The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalised revisions to several components of the federal oil and natural gas standards adopted in 2024, adjusting compliance requirements and extending certain operational allowances for industry.
The agency says the changes are expected to reduce compliance costs by an estimated $2.5 billion over 15 years, or about $208 million annually.
The revisions respond to petitions for reconsideration and feedback received during a 45‑day public comment period following the release of the 2024 Clean Air Act rules, known as OOOOb/c. Those rules included new limits on routine flaring, expanded monitoring requirements and updated methane‑reduction measures for new and modified oil and gas facilities.
One of the most significant changes relates to temporary flaring allowances.
The 2024 rule permitted up to 24 hours of temporary flaring during maintenance events. Industry groups argued that the timeframe was insufficient for troubleshooting and repairs, particularly during severe weather or supply chain disruptions.
Under the revised rule, operators may now conduct temporary flaring for up to 72 hours, with additional time permitted in exceptional circumstances. Operators will be required to document and report when such extensions occur.
The EPA has also updated provisions related to monitoring the net heating value (NHV) of vent gas from flares and enclosed combustion devices.
The agency says new data indicates that continuous NHV sampling is not necessary in most situations.
As a result, operators will no longer need to conduct NHV testing except in cases involving inert gases or other specific scenarios.
The EPA estimates this change will eliminate up to 141,000 tests per year, or 1.9 million tests over 15 years, and does not expect the revisions to affect emissions outcomes.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the changes are intended to make the rules more workable for operators while maintaining environmental protections.
“We can both protect human health and the environment and grow the economy at the same time,” he said in a statement announcing the final rule.
Environmental groups have expressed concern about the revisions, since the 2024 rules were designed to reduce methane emissions from new and modified oil and gas facilities.
In a statement, Jon Goldstein, Associate Vice President for Energy Transition at the Environmental Defense Fund, said the changes weaken methane safeguards adopted in 2024.
“Flaring natural gas wastes a vital energy resource at a time when power bills are already high for American families, and is a major source of methane emissions and other dangerous pollution,” he said.
Goldstein added that the organisation expects further proposals to modify federal methane standards.
The EPA has indicated that further amendments may be released later this year.