Collectively, oil and gas facilities
are the largest industrial emitters of methane in the U.S. While a
great deal of information is available on the oil and gas industry
and has to date provided a strong technical foundation to support
the Agency’s recent actions, the EPA is now seeking more specific
information that would be of critical use in addressing existing
source emissions pursuant to Clean Air Act section 111(d). Taking
into account the large number of sources that a national regulation
development effort would need to consider, and the potential for
taking a different approach to addressing co-located existing
sources than was taken with new and modified sources, the EPA
requires information that will enable the development of effective
standards for this entire industry under CAA section 111(d). There
will be two parts to the information collection. Part 1, referred
to as the operator survey, is specifically designed to obtain
information from onshore oil and gas production facilities to
better understand the number and types of equipment at production
facilities. Part 2, referred to as the detailed facility survey,
will be sent to selected oil and gas facilities across the
different industry segments. Part 2 will collect detailed,
unit-specific information on emission sources at the facility and
any emission control devices or management practices used to reduce
emissions. Due to the large number of potentially affected
facilities, Part 2 uses a statistical sampling method considering
each industry segment (and groupings of facilities in the
production segment) to be separate sampling populations. Thus, a
statistically significant number of facilities within each industry
segment (or “population”) will be required to complete the Part 2
detailed facility survey. The data collected throughout this
process will be used to determine the number of potentially
affected emission sources and the types and prevalence of emission
controls or emission reduction measures used for these sources at
existing oil and gas facilities, among other purposes. This
information may also be used to fill data gaps, to evaluate the
emission and cost impacts of various regulatory options, and to
establish appropriate standards of performance for oil and gas
facilities. If OMB approves this ICR, respondents will be required
to respond under the authority of section 114 of the CAA. The EPA
anticipates issuing the CAA section 114 letters by late October,
2016. These letters would require the owner/operator of an oil and
gas facility to complete and submit the Part 1 survey within 30
days of receipt of the survey, and would require facilities to
complete and submit the Part 2 survey with 120 days of
receipt.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
2548 Supporting Statement V3.docx
Part 2 Questionnaire