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    Air Program

    Methane Reduction Strategy

    Reducing Volatile Organic Compounds and Methane in Pennsylvania

    Methane, the primary component of natural gas, has been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the second-most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted in the United States from human activities.

    With federal estimates that the natural gas and oil industries account for a quarter of U.S. methane emissions, reducing methane leaks from the oil and gas sector is one of the essential steps needed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the impacts of climate change.

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has undertaken several steps to reduce methane leakage from oil and gas wells and transmission infrastructure. This includes updated permits for new oil and gas well sites that establish a threshold for methane emissions for the first time.

    DEP has also pursued regulations for existing oil and gas wells and infrastructure. These regulations require operators to identify and stop leaks in their equipment that can allow methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to escape into the atmosphere. While the regulations specifically target VOCs, reducing leaks of any gas from wells and pipelines will reduce methane emissions as well.

    DEP is also finalizing a State Plan that details the implementation and enforcement plan for the EPA’s New Source Performance Standards and Emissions Guidelines for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oil and natural gas facilities.

    Reducing Emissions of Methane and Other Pollution from Oil and Natural Gas Operations (40 CFR Part 60, Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc)

    In March 2024 EPA finalized a federal rule to reduce emissions of methane and other pollution from oil and natural gas operations and related actions.  The rule includes New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) to reduce methane and smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new, modified and reconstructed sources (OOOOb). It also included Emissions Guidelines (OOOOc), which set procedures for states to follow as they develop plans to limit methane from existing sources. The EPA expects the new rule to reduce methane emissions by 80%.

    What's New

    The Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) is conducting meaningful engagement efforts to hear from stakeholders their feedback on the State Plan.  BAQ presented details of the State Plan at regularly scheduled Advisory Committee meetings. To review the presentations, follow the links below:

    Webinar

    April 1, 2025
    12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

    DEP's Bureau of Air Quality will be providing an overview to the public on the Department's approach to implementing 40 CFR Part 60, Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc): Reducing Emissions of Methane and Other Pollution from Oil and Natural Gas Operations. There will be an opportunity for the public to submit feedback. Those who wish for the Department to respond to their feedback should still plan to submit formal written comments during the formal public comment period. 

    To attend, register here.

    Public Hearings

    The Department intends to hold five regional public hearings and one virtual public hearing. Regional public hearings will be held in the Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral, Southwest, and Central Offices. Please refer back to this webpage or the Pennsylvania Bulletin once the public comment period is open for details on location and times.

    How to submit written public comments

    Coming Soon! Please refer to eComment when the public comment period opens to review the State Plan documents and submit written public comments.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The rule applies to wells (conventional and unconventional), centrifugal compressors, reciprocating compressors, pneumatic controllers, pneumatic pumps, storage vessels, fugitive emissions components, super emitter emissions events, and process unit equipment involved in oil and natural gas operations.

    The rule is designed to limit methane pollution by using advanced technology, limiting flaring,

    conducting inspections to detect leaks, closing wells scheduled for closure, and various other mechanisms.

    The federal rule has two parts. One, is the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for new, modified and reconstructed sources (OOOOb). The DEP has adopted OOOOb through incorporation by reference. Any new, modified, or reconstructed sources after December 6, 2022 will be required to implement the NSPS through the DEPs existing permitting process.

    The second part are Emissions Guidelines for existing sources constructed prior to December 6, 2022 (OOOOc). To adopt the Emissions Guidelines, Pennsylvania will develop and submit a State Plan to the EPA based on the Model Rule.

    A state plan is a written agreement between a state and the federal government that outlines how the state will implement, enforce, or achieve compliance with a specific federal program. It is often used in contexts where federal regulations provide overarching requirements but allow states some flexibility in tailoring implementation to local needs and conditions. In this case, the “Methane Rule” (Subpart OOOOc Emissions Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities) is the federal program to reduce methane emissions, and the state plan is Pennsylvania’s written plan of action to administer the program.

    A state plan is different than a State Implementation Plan (SIP), which is broader and addresses how states will achieve and maintain compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in a region. It requires various components such as modeling, monitoring, and specific control measures.

    A state plan must include compliance schedules for each designated facility; standards of performance for designated facilities; performance testing, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; documentation of meaningful engagement on the plan; certification that the required hearing on the state plan was held, a list of witnesses and their organizational affiliations, if any, appearing at the hearing, and a brief written summary of each presentation or written submission; provision for state progress reports to EPA; identification of enforceable state mechanisms that you selected for implementing the emission guidelines; and demonstration of Pennsylvania’s legal authority to carry out the Clean Air Act section 111(d) state plan.

    The Department met with industry, environmental, non-governmental, community, and public health stakeholders to hear their feedback on the state plan. Additionally, the Department presented and took questions from members of the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee, Small Business Compliance Committee, Grade Crude Development Advisory Committee, and the Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board during the development of this proposed state plan.

    The Department will be hosting a webinar for the public to learn more about the details of the state plan. Details of the webinar will be posted to this webpage.

    The Department will publish the state plan for public comments and five regional public hearings and one virtual public hearing.  The regional public hearings will be held in the Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral, Southwest, and Central offices.

    The EPA determined in the final rule - 40 CFR Part 60 Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc – what qualifies as a designated facility.

    The DEP is planning to develop a General Permit concept to enforce this federal rule. The GP will be available for public comment separately from the state plan. The Department will submit the GP to EPA as a part of the state plan.

    Under the Remaining Useful Life and Other Factors (RULOF) mechanism, states may apply a standard of performance to a particular designated facility that is less stringent than the general requirements of OOOOc.

    Under the RULOF mechanism, states may apply a standard of performance to a particular designated facility that is less stringent than the general requirements of OOOOc. RULOF requires that the reduced standard be no less stringent than necessary to address the fundamental differences of the facility and the information the EPA considered in determining the degree of emissions limitations for OOOOc.

    To use RULOF, facilities must submit a demonstration to the department for evaluation to determine whether a less stringent standard is applicable. These demonstrations must show that facilities cannot reasonably achieve the degree of emission limitation based on one or more of the following:

    1. unreasonable cost of control resulting from plant age, location or basic process design;
    2. physical impossibility or technical infeasibility of installing necessary control equipment; or
    3. other factors specific to the facility

    EPA’s Super Emitter Program was designed with a focus on new and existing sources where methane emissions events exceeding 100 kilograms (220.5 lbs) per hour have been identified.

    This program specifically involves third-party monitoring groups, who will use remote sensing technologies to detect and collect data on these large emissions events. Third parties are not authorized to enter facilities.  After third parties submit data, EPA then reviews the data and contacts owner/operators, who must then investigate and make repairs.

    The Super Emitter Program is completely under EPA’s purview.  Sources subject to OOOOc are covered under the SEP and may be surveyed by third parties, as the program affects both new and existing sources.

    The EPA may impose a federal plan which may be more stringent than the emissions guidelines set forth by Pennsylvania.

    Owners and operators have until the first quarter of 2029 to become compliant.

    Control of VOC Emissions from the Oil and Natural Gas Sources

    DEP suspended enforcement of the initial annual report submission under 25 Pa. Code §§129.130(k)(1) for Unconventional and 129.140(k)(1) for Conventional until June 1, 2024, the date the second report covering calendar year 2023 was due.

    Pennsylvania Bulletin

    New GP-5A, Revision to GP-5 and Revision to Air Quality Permit Exemptions Document

    On June 9, 2018, issued:

    1. A new General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Unconventional Natural Gas Well Site Operations and Remote Pigging Stations (BAQ-GPA/GP-5A or GP-5A)
    2. Revisions to the existing General Plan Approval and/or General Operating Permit for Natural Gas Compressor Stations, Processing Plants and Transmission Stations (BAQ-GPA/GP-5 or GP-5) originally issued in Feb. 2013, and modified in Jan. 2015
    3. Revisions to the Air Quality Permit Exemptions document (275-2101-003), previously amended on August 10, 2013  

    The General Permits establish Best Available Technology (BAT) requirements and other applicable Federal and State requirements including air emission limits, source testing, leak detection and repair, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for the applicable air contamination sources.

    The GP-5A was developed under the authority of section 6.1(f) of the Air Pollution Control Act (35 P.S. § 4006.1(f)) and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 127, Subchapter H (relating to general plan approvals and operating permits), and is applicable to unconventional natural gas well site operations and remote pigging stations. 

    The revised GP-5 was developed under the authority of section 6.1(f) of the Air Pollution Control Act and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 127, Subchapter H, and is applicable to natural gas compressor stations and processing plants and transmission stations.

    Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment Facebook Town Hall

    Governor Wolf's Facebook Town Hall with Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley and Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn on climate change, energy, and the environment.