EPA Proposes Rollback of Biden-Era Oil, Gas Regulations


   
   HOUSTON, TX (DTN) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a proposal to revise 
Biden-era oil and natural gas regulations under the Clean Air Act, a move the 
administration says would lower industry costs and support additional domestic 
energy production.

   The EPA estimates the proposed changes would save consumers and businesses 
$45 billion while enabling production of an additional 210 million barrels of 
oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the agency said on Tuesday 
(10/27). The changes would particularly benefit operators of marginal wells, 
which account for roughly four out of five producing U.S. wells, according to 
the EPA..

   The proposal targets regulations finalized by the Biden administration in 
2024 that were initially estimated to cost $18 billion. The Trump 
administration argues those requirements imposed disproportionate costs on 
smaller producers and risked forcing existing wells to close while discouraging 
development of new wells.

   Under the proposal, EPA would consider separate regulatory categories for 
wells based either on production levels, distinguishing marginal from 
non-marginal wells, or on resource type, separating conventional from 
unconventional operations.

   The agency also proposes eliminating the Super Emitter Program, which 
certified third parties to monitor large emissions events.

   Other changes would revise requirements covering closed vent systems and 
allow repairs under operational standards. The agency would restore 95% 
efficient flaring or other control devices as an accepted method for managing 
associated natural gas instead of requiring gas from oil wells to reach a sales 
line.

   The proposal also includes technical revisions intended to provide operators 
greater flexibility on flame monitoring, control-device alerts and 
visible-emissions testing.




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