Activists Say EPA Oil, Gas Discharge Data Ignores Strict Norwegian Limits

摘要

Environmentalists seeking a strict Clean Water Act "zero-discharge" limit for the oil and gas sector off the Alaska coast are asking EPA to stop circulating what they say is outdated information from Norway on that country's rules for the sector, saying the data fails to acknowledge stringent new Norwegian discharge limits they want EPA to adopt. EPA is preparing to update its general National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for offshore oil and gas activity in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, with tentative plans to propose a rule early next year and to finalize it next fall, according to an agency fact sheet. As part of the rulemaking effort, EPA is looking to other countries' regulation of oil and gas discharges to help guide the general NPDES permit. Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. Seepage 2 for details.