American Petroleum Institute cautions against rush for new oil, gas industry regulations

The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency and states to postpone further oil and gas industry regulations until the EPA’s Oil and Gas Information Collection Request (ICR) and analysis is complete.

“Moving forward with these guidelines without robust data could impose unachievable emission reduction requirements on the industry while adding potentially significant costs to the American economy, jobs, consumers and the environment,” API Senior Director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Howard Feldman said.

The API is pushing the EPA and states to hold off on any new environmental regulations for the oil and gas industry until the ICR is complete so that it can use the findings to better inform those regulations.

“The United States leads the world in both production of oil and natural gas and in the reduction of carbon emissions; we are second to no one,” Feldman said. “In light of current and proposed state and federal regulations that address existing sources, it is better to allow completion of the ICR to inform whether CTGs (control techniques guidelines )are warranted and avoid the risks that acting on insufficient scientific data and conflicting guidelines could impose on the American public. If the EPA fails to follow the science, we call on Congress to avoid potential barriers to American economic and environmental progress.”