EPA Hearings: Air Pollution Standards for Oil and Gas Production

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold three public hearings in September on the agency’s proposed standards to reduce air pollution from oil and gas drilling operations.  The proposed standards would rely on cost-effective, existing technologies and practices to reduce pollution that contributes to smog and can cause cancer, while supporting the administration’s priority of continuing to expand safe and responsible domestic oil and natural gas production.  The first hearing will be held in Pittsburgh on September 27. The other hearings will be in Denver, Colorado and Arlington, Texas.  

Pittsburgh Hearing: 9 am - 8 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 27

David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Rooms 315-316

1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Denver Hearing: 9 am-8 pm, Wed. Sept. 28

Colorado Convention Center, Room 207

700 14th Street

Denver, Colorado 80202

Arlington Hearing: 9 am - 8 pm, Sept. 29

Arlington Municipal Building in the City Council Chambers

101 W. Abram Street

Arlington, Texas 76010

To register to speak at a specific time at any of the hearings, please contact Joan C. Rogers at 919-541-4487 or rogers.joanc@epa.gov. People also may sign up to speak in person on the day of a hearing; however, they may not be given their preferred time slot to speak.

Public comments will be accepted through October 24, 2011. When you submit your comments, identify them by Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505.

Ways to submit written comments:

• online at the Federal rulemaking portal -  www.regulations.gov
• by email to A-and-R-Docket@epamail.epa.gov
• by FAX at 202-566-9744
• by postal service (include 2 copies) to: Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460

If you mail comments, please mail an additional copy to: The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attn.: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th St. NW, Washington, DC  20503

EPA must issue a final rule by Feb. 28, 2012. More information at http://epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas/

You can read the 106-page announcement of the rules in the Federal Registry at

 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-23/pdf/2011-19899.pdf      

For further information contact Bruce Moore at 919-541-5460 or by email at moore.bruce@epa.gov