v>EPA
Fact Sheet
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Proposed Rule: Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule Leak Detection Methodology Revisions
and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
Action
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to amend the Petroleum and Natural
Gas Systems source category (subpart W) of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule.
• This proposed rule would add new monitoring methods for detecting leaks from oil and gas
equipment in the petroleum and natural gas systems source category consistent with the leak detection
method in the recently proposed New Source Performance Standard (NSPS subpart OOOOa) for the
oil and gas industry.
•	The action also would add emission factors for leaking equipment to be used in conjunction with
these monitoring methods to calculate and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from
equipment leaks.
•	Additionally, this rule proposes confidentiality determinations for new data elements contained in this
proposal.
Background
•	The GHGRP, mandated by Congress in the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, requires
reporting of GHG data from large emission sources and suppliers across a range of industry sectors.
•	The GHGRP collects greenhouse gas data from facilities that conduct Petroleum and Natural Gas
Systems activities, including production, processing, transmission, and distribution. For the 2014
calendar year, the EPA received annual reports from over 2,300 facilities with Petroleum and Natural
Gas Systems activities. The total reported GHG emissions for 2014 was 236 million metric tons of
carbon dioxide equivalent.
•	The EPA has been working to enhance the quality of data from petroleum and natural gas systems
because the GHGRP has been an important tool for the Agency and the public to analyze emissions,
identify opportunities for improving the data, and understand emissions trends. These proposed
changes build on EPA's experience and success with electronic reporting and verification during the
first four years of the GHGRP.
Proposed Revisions
• Following the proposal of the NSPS subpart OOOOa for the oil and gas industry and the associated
leak detection requirements, the EPA is proposing to align the subpart W leak detection methods with
those proposed in the NSPS subpart OOOOa action.
• The proposed subpart W leak detection methods would only be required for those subpart W reporters
who are also subject NSPS subpart OOOOa. This reduces burden for reporters that need to comply
with both EPA programs.
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•	The proposed subpart W leak detection methods could be used by other subpart W reporters on a
voluntary basis.
•	This action would provide flexibility for companies that are undertaking voluntary leak detection
activities through participation in Methane Challenge program by allowing them to use subpart W
methods and data to show the results of their leak detection programs in their greenhouse gas
reporting.
Proposed revisions include:
•	Adding new monitoring methods for detecting leaks from oil and gas equipment in the petroleum and
natural gas systems source category consistent with the leak detection methods in the recently
proposed NSPS OOOOa for the oil and gas industry.
•	Including emission factors for leaking equipment to be used in conjunction with the new monitoring
methods to calculate and report GHG emissions resulting from equipment leaks.
Proposed Confidentiality Determinations
•	The EPA is proposing confidentiality determinations for new data reporting elements in the proposed
amendments. The EPA is proposing to determine that none of these new data reporting elements are
entitled to confidential protection.
More Information
•	For more information on the GHGRP and a prepublication version of this action, please visit our Web
site: http://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/rulemaking-notices-ghg-reporting.
•	The public comment period is open for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Detailed
instructions on how to provide comments are located in the preamble of the proposed rule.
•	For more information on Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems in the GHGRP, see:
http://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/subpart-w-petroleum-and-natural-gas-svstems.
January 2016
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40 CFR Part 98

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