From: John Larmett [mailto:Larmett.John@epamail.epa.gov]
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 08:40 AM

Dear Stakeholder:

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will issue what are referred to as New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for the oil and gas sector. Under a court order, EPA will propose rules that include the first national air standards for more than 25,000 new and existing natural gas wells that are hydraulically fractured, or re-fractured, and completed each year. They also add or strengthen requirements for storage tanks and other types of equipment.

Natural gas is an extremely clean-burning fuel that plays an important role in our nation’s clean energy future, but natural gas production cannot occur at the expense of public health and the environment. These standards rely on existing, cost-effective methods that allow operators to capture and sell natural gas that currently escapes into the air. Leveraging this technology will save tens of millions of dollars while cutting emissions of benzene and other air toxics, methane – a potent greenhouse gas, as well as volatile organic compounds.

We would like to invite you to participate in a briefing where you will have the opportunity to ask questions of senior EPA officials about NSPS and its benefits.

Please reserve this time on your calendar to join us.

Date: Thursday, July 28th
Time: 12:30 PM EDT
Call-in Number: (877) 290-8017
Conference Code ID #: 86760044

Office of Public Engagement
Office of External Affairs & Environmental Education
Office of the Administrator

Special thanks to Richard Charter