EPA's Air Rules for the Oil & Natural Gas Industry
Final Amendments to the Federal Implementation Plan forthe Indian Country Minor
New Source Review Program for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry: Fact Sheet
Summary of action
•	On May 2, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed final
amendments to the 2016 federal implementation plan (FIP) for managing air emissions
from new and modified true minor oil and natural gas sources in Indian country. The FIP
limits emissions of harmful air pollutants, while providing streamlined construction
authorization for new and modified "true minor sources" in the oil and natural gas
production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and natural gassector.
•	The final amendments will allow the FIP to continue to apply in portions of the Uintah and
Ouray Indian Reservation that were included in an area EPA has designated as
nonattainment for the 2015 national ambient air quality standards for ozone. The current
FIP applies only in areas designated as attainment, attainment/unclassifiable or
unclassifiable.
•	The final amendments will provide a permanent mechanism for streamlining construction
authorizations for new and modified true minor sources on the reservation, including on
the portions of the Reservation that are designated as nonattainment. EPA designated the
Uinta Basin Ozone Nonattainment Area on April 30, 2018. The effective date of the
designation was August 3, 2018.
•	Separately, EPA is developing a reservation-specific rule for oil and natural gas sources on
the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. That rule will contain requirements to reduce
ozone-forming emissions from existing, new and modified minor oil and natural gas sources
on the reservation, while allowing continued development of its oil and natural gas
resources. The reservation-specific rule also will help ensure consistency between
regulatory requirements for oil and natural gas sources on the reservation and those on
lands under state jurisdiction. EPA anticipates proposing the reservation-specific rule in the
coming months.
•	EPA took public comment on the proposed amendments to the FIP for 60 days after the
proposal was published in the Federal Register. The Agency held a public hearing May
30, 2018 at the EPA Region 8 office in Denver. The rule will become effective when it is
published in the Federal Register.
About the FIP
•	New and modified "true minor sources" in the oil and natural gas production and natural
gas processing segments of the oil and natural gas sector may comply with the FIP in lieu of
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