Federal Register :: Additional Reconsideration Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review

Additional Reconsideration Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review

A Proposed Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 10/29/2026

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Published Content - Document Details

Agency : Environmental Protection Agency Agency/Docket Numbers : EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163 : FRL-12726-01-OAR CFR : 40 CFR 60 Document Citation : 91 FR 68234 Document Number : 2026-22082 Document Type : Proposed Rule Pages : 68234-68361 (128 pages) Publication Date : 10/29/2026 RIN : 2060-AW73

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Environmental Protection Agency

1. 40 CFR Part 60 2. [EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163; FRL-12726-01-OAR] 3. RIN 2060-AW73

AGENCY:

ACTION:

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the New Source Performance Standards and Emission Guidelines for the Crude Oil and Natural Gas Source Category to address additional concerns raised with prior regulatory amendments finalized in March 2024. Specifically, the EPA is proposing changes in response to certain petitions for reconsideration of the March 2024 amendments, changes based on policy decisions and supporting legal interpretations, and changes that correct and clarify the regulatory text of the new source performance standards and emission guidelines. First, the EPA proposes to rescind the Super Emitter Program. Second, the EPA proposes to subcategorize different types of well sites affected and designated facilities to address issues related to the requirements finalized in March 2024 for marginal well sites and conventional well sites. Third, the EPA proposes changes to address issues related to liquids unloading, process controllers, pumps, fugitive emissions, storage vessels, covers and closed vent systems, equipment leaks at gas plants, and associated gas. Fourth, the EPA proposes changes to certain requirements finalized in March 2024 related to control devices and to provide owners and operators the option to conduct optical gas imaging surveys according to Appendix K for gas processing facilities. Lastly, the EPA proposes changes to correct inadvertent errors and to clarify regulatory language.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before December 16, 2026. The EPA will announce further details at https://www.epa.gov/​controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-operations. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on the information collection provisions are best assured of consideration if the Office of Management and Budget receives a copy of your comments on or before November 30, 2026.

Public Hearing. The EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on November 13, 2026. Please refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for information on registering for the public hearing.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163, by any of the following methods:

- Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. - Email: [email protected]. Include Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163 in the subject line of the message. - Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. - Hand/Courier Delivery: EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center's hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays).

Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. for this rulemaking. Comments received may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending written comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this preamble.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information about this proposed rule, contact Paz Aviles, Natural Resources Division, Office of Clean Air Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-9822; and email address: [email protected]. Additional questions may be directed to the following email address: O& [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Participation in virtual public hearing. The hearing will be held via virtual platform November 16, 2026. The EPA may close a session 15 minutes after the last pre-registered speaker has testified if there are no additional speakers. The EPA will announce further details at https://www.epa.gov/​controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-operations.

The EPA will begin pre-registering speakers for the hearing no later than one business day after a request has been r