Austin, Texas – This week, the Biden Administration released its latest regulatory agenda, outlining planned rulemakings and federal action for the coming months and beyond. Within the new regulatory agenda, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seemingly has dropped its pursuit of imposing “discretionary redesignation” of air quality conditions in the Permian Basin. The following statement regarding this regulatory development can be attributed to Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO):
“We are relieved to learn that the EPA at this time has decided not to pursue policy changes that would designate portions of the Permian Basin as being in ‘nonattainment’ of federal air standards, something our association has fiercely advocated against. Over the past several years, our industry has made monumental steps in reducing air pollutants, and oil and gas producers are already taking the steps needed to improve air quality. In fact, according to a recent study by Texans for Natural Gas, a TIPRO campaign, between 2011 and 2021, methane emissions intensity fell by more than 76 percent in the Permian Basin. If the administration and EPA want to craft successful policy moving forward, they should be partnering with private industry in a collaborative manner to help advance emissions reduction efforts, not forcing them through unneeded and onerous regulatory mandates.”
