BLM confirms a one-year delay for methane leak detection and gas measurement compliance deadlines
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This rule keeps in place a one-year delay for two parts of BLM’s 2024 waste-prevention rules: gas measurement equipment at flaring sites and leak detection and repair programs. Oil and gas operators on federal and Indian leases get more time before they must comply, while BLM says it plans to revisit the requirements in a future rule. For companies, the practical effect is less immediate compliance pressure and lower near-term implementation costs, but the deadline relief is temporary. Operators should still track the upcoming proposed changes, because BLM signals that these requirements may be revised again.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Confirms the effective date of the earlier direct final rule that delayed compliance deadlines.
- Keeps a one-year postponement for gas measurement equipment requirements tied to flaring.
- Keeps a one-year postponement for leak detection and repair program requirements.
Obligations
What this law requires
Operators on federal and tribal leases are not required to implement the 43 CFR 3179.71 gas-measurement-device requirement or the 43 CFR 3179.100 leak detection and repair program requirement until the phase-in extension expires; the rule postpones those two compliance deadlines by 1 year.
Oil and gas operators on Federal and Indian leases are not required to comply with the BLM's gas measurement equipment installation requirement under 43 CFR 3179.71 until the postponed phase-in deadline takes effect; the rule extends that compliance deadline by 1 year.
BLM-regulated oil and gas operators on Federal and Indian leases are not required to implement the phase-in requirements for gas measurement equipment at flaring sites for an additional one year because the rule postpones enforcement of 43 CFR 3179.71.
BLM-regulated oil and gas operators on Federal and Indian leases are not required to develop and implement Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs under 43 CFR 3179.100 for an additional one year because the rule postpones that requirement.
Oil and gas operators on Federal and Indian leases are not required to develop and implement Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs under 43 CFR 3179.100 until the postponed phase-in deadline takes effect; the rule extends that compliance deadline by 1 year.