EPA Gives Oil and Gas Industry a Year to Self-Audit for CAA Compliance

EPA has given existing owners of oil and gas wells a year to find, correct, and self-disclose Clean Air Act violations. 

On December 19, 2019, EPA finalized an Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Facilities Existing Owner Audit Program, which allows existing owners of upstream oil and natural gas facilities the opportunity to find, correct, and self-disclose Clean Air Act violations. Under the Program, well operators have twelve months to self-audit, and will not be penalized for voluntarily disclosed violations that are corrected. In March 2019, EPA announced a voluntary disclosure program for new owners of oil and gas wells; this action expands the program to existing owners.