EPA Plans To Tighten Oversight Of Oil & Gas Permits In Response To OIG

摘要

EPA is committing to tighten its oversight of state air permits granted to thousands of small air pollution sources, many of them related to oil and gas drilling, in response to a critical report from its Office of Inspector General (OIG) that found in many cases the permits may not be properly enforced, raising the potential for excess emissions. In a report issued July 8, the OIG found that many "synthetic minor" source air permits issued by Colorado and Oklahoma lack sufficiently stringent enforcement terms to ensure that the permits' air emissions limits are respected. The OIG conducted its review to address one of the agency's "top management challenges," as identified by OIG and EPA staff.