EPA UPDATES CLEAN AIR STANDARDS FOR DOMESTIC OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION

On April 18, EPA finalized standards to reduce air pollution emitted from oil and natural gas wells, including for the first time, hydraulically fractured natural gas wells, storage tanks and other equipment. The new cost-effective technologies will help reduce the release of methane and other air toxics captured at the wellhead that can cause cancer and other serious health effects. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas.

EPA PUBLISHES NATIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY

On April 16, EPA released the 17th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory that calculates the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by source and economic sector. The new figures indicate that overall, greenhouse gas emissions grew by more than 10 percent from 1990 to 2010, and in 2010, totaled 6,822 million metric tons. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions removed from the atmosphere by “sinks,” or carbon uptake by forests, vegetation and soils. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html.