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National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) |  |
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Final Rulemaking for Regulation of Oil and Gas Construction ActivitiesThe 1987 Water Quality Act (WQA) added section 402(l)(2) to the CWA specifying that EPA and States shall not require NPDES permits for uncontaminated storm water discharges from oil and gas exploration, production, processing or treatment operations, or transmission facilities. Section 323 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 defined the term "oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment, or transmission facilities" to mean "all field activities or operations associated with exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations or transmission facilities, including activities necessary to prepare a site for the movement and placement of drilling equipment, whether or not such field activities or operations may be considered to be construction activity." On June 12, 2006, EPA published a final rule to address the new provision added by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This regulation effectively exempted from NPDES permit requirements stormwater discharges of sediment from construction activities associated with oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations or transmission facilities unless the relevant facility had a discharge of stormwater resulting in a discharge of a reportable quantity of oil or hazardous substances. 40 CFR 122.26(a)(2)(ii) (citing 122.26(c)(1)(iii)(C)). Shortly thereafter, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) petitioned the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit) for direct review of EPA's action. On May 23, 2008, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Natural Resources Defense Council v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 526 F.3d 591 (9th Cir. 2008), vacating EPA's 2006 oil and gas construction stormwater regulation. On July 21, 2008, EPA filed a petition for rehearing in this case. On November 3, 2008, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its order denying EPA’s request for rehearing of the Court’s decision vacating EPA's 2006 oil and gas construction stormwater regulation. The 2006 rule will be vacated effective November 10, 2008. After this vacature, the effective law will be the amendment to the Clean Water Act contained in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the prior applicable regulations. In other words, the applicable regulations will revert back to the regulations in place prior to the 2006 rule. Specifically, the two sections affected by this decision are 40 CFR 122.26(a)(2) and (e)(8). Prior to the June 12, 2006, rule, these sections provided as follows: 122.26(a)(2) The Director may not require a permit for discharges of storm water runoff from mining operations or oil and gas exploration, production, processing or treatment operations or transmission facilities, composed entirely of flows which are from conveyances or systems of conveyances (including but not limited to pipes, conduits, ditches, and channels) used for collecting and conveying precipitation runoff and which are not contaminated by contact with or that has not come into contact with, any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, finished product, byproduct or waste products located on the site of such operations. 122.26(e)(8) For any storm water discharge associated with small construction activity identified in paragraph (b)(15)(i) of this section, see 122.21(c)(1). Discharges from these sources, other than discharges associated with small construction activity at oil and gas exploration, production, processing, and treatment operations or transmission facilities, require permit authorization by March 10, 2003, unless designated for coverage before then. Discharges associated with small construction activity at such oil and gas sites require permit authorization by June 12, 2006. In addition, the relevant provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 -- i.e., 33 U.S.C. 1362(24) - defining the term "oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations or transmission facilities" means all field activities or operations associated with exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations or transmission facilities, including activities necessary to prepare a site for drilling and for the movement and placement of drilling equipment, whether or not such field activities or operations may be considered to be construction activity - remains in effect even though it has not been reflected in the CFR. Background
This webpage will be updated as new information is received (last updated: November 10, 2008) Final Rule
Amendments to the NPDES Regulations for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing, or Treatment Operations, or Transmission Facilities (PDF) (13 pp, 175K) - On June 12, 2006, EPA published a rule that exempts construction activities at oil and gas sites from the requirement to obtain an NPDES permit for stormwater discharges except in very limited instances. These amendments are consistent with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 signed by the President on August 8, 2005. This action also encourages voluntary application of best management practices for construction activities associated with oil and gas field activities and operations to minimize erosion and control sediment to protect surface water quality. The final rule is effective June 12, 2006.
Proposed Rule Proposed Amendments to the NPDES Regulations for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing, or Treatment Operations, or Transmission Facilities (PDF) (33 pp, 218K). On December 30, 2005, the Administrator signed this proposed rule for publication in the Federal Register. NPDES Oil and Gas Public Meeting On May 10th, 2005, EPA hosted a public meeting in Dallas, Texas to discuss the NPDES Stormwater Permit Regulations for Small Oil and Gas Construction Activities. EPA representatives included Jack Faulk, Jim Hanlon, Michael Lee, Deborah Nagle, and Jeff Smith. Jim Elder, an independent consultant, served as facilitator for the meeting. EPA created a panel of 11 representatives from state and federal government, the oil industry, and environmental organizations. A full transcript (PDF) (90 pp, 340K) and registration list (PDF) (11 pp, 65K)is available for this meeting. Several PowerPoint presentations were given and some attendees gave public statements during the meeting. PowerPoint presentations given during the meeting can be downloaded by clicking the links below:
Public statements given and comments submitted during the meeting can be downloaded by clicking the links below:
Additional documents pertaining to the meeting can be downloaded by clicking the links below: Meeting transcript (PDF) (90 pp, 340K) Registration list (PDF) (11 pp, 65K) |
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