The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed revisions to its oil and natural gas regulations under the Clean Air Act, the standards known as OOOOb/c. EPA estimates the changes would save $45 billion in costs and allow an additional 210 million barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to be produced.

President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the proposal. It targets standards the previous administration's EPA finalized in 2024. EPA says those rules were estimated at the time to cost $18 billion, but that the earlier agency underestimated the costs and would have forced many wells to close and stopped new wells from opening.

Five proposed changes

EPA lists five main revisions:

  • Well sites: EPA is co-proposing two options for separate categories and standards. One would sort sites by production level, marginal or non-marginal. The other would sort them by resource type, conventional or unconventional.
  • Super emitter program: EPA proposes to rescind the program that certified third-party monitors for so-called super emitter leak events and required states to do the same. It cites legal concerns and questions the program's necessity.
  • Covers and closed vent systems: EPA would split the "No Identifiable Emissions" aspect into design requirements and operational requirements. The operational requirements would allow for repairs.
  • Associated gas: EPA proposes to restore 95% efficient flaring or other control devices as the best system of emission reduction. The 2024 approach required all associated gas from oil wells to reach a sales line. EPA says that is not possible in all producing areas and raises legal and practical concerns.
  • Control devices: EPA proposes technical changes that give flexibility on flame monitoring data deviations, control device alerts and visible emissions test conditions where appropriate.

Marginal wells

The proposal puts weight on marginal wells, which EPA says make up roughly four out of every five producing wells in the country. The agency describes many of them as family-owned and says the 2024 standards would have forced many existing sources to close, particularly marginal wells.

EPA's case on emissions

EPA argues that the 2024 rule overstated its emission cuts. It says the earlier agency promoted zero-emissions requirements even though existing regulations already required 95% reductions for associated gas, and that the 2024 rule would never have reached 100% reductions. According to EPA, the earlier agency had to build in exemptions and exceptions to justify the requirements.

The agency says it remains committed to protecting human health and the environment. It notes that some states already regulate wells in ways that reduce emissions while leaving flexibility for producers, and it wants input from states and operators on how to match the rules to well types and locations.

Administration reaction

Zeldin said the proposal is the agency's biggest step yet to fix what he described as the previous EPA's targeting of oil and gas. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the revision rolls back Biden-era red tape and repeated the 210 million barrel and $45 billion estimates. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called it an effort to remove unnecessary regulatory burdens so producers can deliver more energy at lower costs. National Energy Dominance Council Executive Director Jarrod Agen also welcomed the revisions.

Comment period

EPA will hold a public comment period of at least 45 days, including a public hearing, after the proposal is published in the Federal Register.