2026-22082·ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

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

Proposed RuleComment Period OpenComments open

Published: Oct 29, 2026
Comments close: Nov 30, 2026
Citation: 91 FR 68234
Docket: EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163, FRL-12726-01-OAR

Proposed rule.

Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to the rules that set performance standards and emission limits for new, reconstructed, and modified oil‑ and natural‑gas facilities. The changes are meant to address concerns raised after the agency’s March 2024 amendments, including petitions for reconsideration, new policy choices, and errors discovered in the earlier text. The proposal would eliminate the “Super Emitter” program, create separate subcategories for different well‑site types, and tighten controls on items such as liquid unloading, pumps, storage vessels, equipment leaks, and fugitive emissions. It also would give operators of gas‑processing plants the option to use optical gas‑imaging surveys to verify emissions controls, and it would correct several inadvertent drafting mistakes. The rule is issued by the EPA and primarily impacts owners and operators of crude‑oil and natural‑gas facilities—especially those building new plants, modifying existing ones, or running marginal and conventional well sites. By redefining subcategories and updating technical requirements, the agency aims to ensure that emissions from the sector are measured and limited more accurately, supporting the United States’ broader climate‑change goals. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2026 (91 FR 68234) and will become effective 30 days after the comment period closes. The public and interested stakeholders have until November 30, 2026, to submit written comments. After the comment deadline, EPA will review the feedback, potentially revise the proposal, and then issue a final rule that could become enforceable several months later.

AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.

Official abstract

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.