PADEP Publishes Guidance on Erosion and Sediment Control, Emission and Source Reporting

January 4, 2013
Posted By: Sean M. McGovern

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently published three important notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin affecting the oil and gas industry.  They are:

  1. The final Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit-2 (ESCGP-2) for Earth Disturbance Associated with Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing or Treatment Operations or Transmission Facilities, which includes several supporting documents and a policy document.
  2. A final technical guidance document regarding the Department’s “Policy for NPDES Permits for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities at Oil and Gas Wells (Document No. 550-2100-008)”).
  3. A notification regarding “Emissions and Source Reporting Requirements for Natural Gas Operations” pursuant to the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act.

The ESCGP-2 notice includes detailed information regarding the DEP’s plan for the proposed transition from the current ESCGP-1 (which expires on April 12, 2013) to the new ESCGP-2.  In the notice regarding emissions and source reporting requirements for unconventional natural gas operations, the DEP identified sources subject to reporting, which include: “compressor stations; dehydration units; drill rigs; fugitives, such as connectors, flanges, pump lines, pump seals and valves; heaters; pneumatic controllers and pumps; stationary engines; tanks, pressurized vessels and impoundments; venting and blow down systems; well heads; and well completions.”  Complete source reports are due by March 1, 2013, and annually on March 1 thereafter.