February 18, 2011: Implementation of New Oil and Gas Permit by Rule and Standard Permit for Oil and Gas Facilities

On January 26, 2011, the TCEQ adopted a new oil and gas permit by rule and issued a new non-rule standard permit for oil and gas facilities. Details of the standard permit and permit by rule. (These items are in PDF format. Note: Extremely large files.) The commission also has available adopted rule language in an easy-to-read format for the standard permit and permit by rule.

Applicability of New Requirements

These new requirements are applicable to all new projects, facilities and changes throughout the state. Details on what these requirements are for any given location are described in a fact sheet (Applicability Fact Sheet).

For all existing sites that have been operating unregistered, but claimed authorization under the previous oil and gas Permits by Rule or Historical Standard Exemptions (SE), new ePermits notification requirements apply. The deadline for this submittal is January 1, 2013. Further information can be found through Historical Notification Help (OGS Historical Notification Help).

For any new projects which start construction after April 1, 2011 in the 23 counties of the Barnett Shale, new ePermits notification and registration requirements apply. Prior to construction, a notification with basic information must be submitted. Further information on the notification can be found through New Project Notification Help (OGS New Project Notification Help). Either 90 or 180 days later, a more detailed registration is required through ePermits. This system will be available late spring. In the meantime, the TCEQ will process these registrations with a paper application which is expected to be available in March.

For all other new projects throughout the state there are no changes to the registration process, forms or documentation requirements at this time.

Tools

In conjunction with the oil and gas rule development the oil and gas team has assembled several tools to assist in completing PBR and standard permit registrations. The purpose of these tools is to determine compliance with site emissions limits of a PBR or standard permit.

Emissions Calculation Spreadsheet

In conjunction with the oil and gas rule development the oil and gas team has assembled the Oil and Gas Emissions Spreadsheet tool for use in calculating emissions from sites involved in the production of oil and gas. The purpose of this tool is to determine compliance with site emissions limits of a PBR or standard permit. The intent is that an oil and gas production site owner/operator can determine emissions from data available at their site with as little outsourced help as possible. This spreadsheet will become the default tool for registrations including those through ePermitting, and since it is the preferred tool it will minimize the likelihood of questions, deficiencies and audits for PBR registrations. This spreadsheet is now available for use for current registrations and will continue to be updated and edited based on comments received.

Please address all comments and questions to Alec Castellano at alec.castellano@tceq.texas.gov, phone: 512-239-0035, or fax: 512-239-1070 no later than the close of business on February 28, 2011.

Representative Analysis

The team has developed a protocol for the use of representative liquid and gas analysis which are used to estimate emissions instead of using a site-specific analysis.

Please address all comments and questions to Molly Wentworth at molly.wentworth@tceq.texas.gov, phone: 512-239-0968, or fax: 512-239-1070 no later than the close of business on February 28, 2011.

Impacts Analysis Using Tables

The team is also developing an Impacts Spreadsheet based on the Tables adopted in the new PBR and standard permit. The purpose of this spreadsheet is to determine acceptable impacts from a new project under the updated requirements for projects in the Barnett Shale area after April 1, 2011. This spreadsheet will become the default tool for registrations including those through ePermitting when relying on the Tables (other modeling discussed below), and since it is the preferred tool it will minimize the likelihood of questions, deficiencies and audits for registrations.

Please address all comments and questions to Jennifer Wood at jennifer.wood@tceq.texas.gov phone: 512-239-1327, or fax: 512-239-1070 no later than the close of business on March 31, 2011.

Modeling Protocols

The team has assembled the Screen Modeling Protocol, ISC Modeling Protocol for use in evaluating impacts to determine compliance with site emissions limits of a PBR or standard permit.

Please address all Modeling comments to Daniel Menendez at daniel.menendez@tceq.texas.gov, phone 512-239-1537, fax 512-239-6626 no later than the close of business on February 28, 2011.

Questions? We Can Help

For further information, please contact Anne Inman at 512-239-1276 or by e-mail at anne.inman@tceq.texas.gov.