Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council Advocates for a Technology-Neutral Approach for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed Supplemental Methane Rule
Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2023
Contact: info@dgccouncil.com
NEWS: Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council Advocates for a Technology-Neutral Approach for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed Supplemental Methane Rule
WASHINGTON- The Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council (DGCC) submitted its third set of regulatory comments on Monday, commending the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its innovative, flexible approach to adopt new methane measurement technology.
The DGCC provided comment to the EPA’s supplemental proposal to comprehensively reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
The coalition, which is made up of academics; downstream, midstream, and upstream energy producers; gas customers; and technology companies, touted the effectiveness of new and developing technologies, including hand-held and drone-based optical gas imaging, manned aircraft, satellite, in expanding the capabilities of methane measurement.
“The EPA’s inclusion of an innovative alternative test method approval process provides operators an option to comply with EPA’s standards with new, more cost-effective technologies that have yet to even be developed. It sets a standard, yet rewards those that are going above and beyond,” said the group’s Executive Director, Tom Hassenboehler.
The DGCC also implored the agency to ensure that its final rule does not clash with other upcoming regulatory actions. The upcoming BLM rule on oil and gas methane emissions, the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s methane programs, the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting (Subpart W) and Greenhouse Gas Corporate Reporting rules, and the SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rule will all play a part in the methane quantification space. The DGCC’s request: “coordinate with other federal entities to finalize the Supplemental Proposal in a way that promotes harmony between the various regulatory, financial, and procurement actions related to the detection, remediation, and reporting of methane emissions.”
“Harmonization among regulations will ensure that those who want to reduce their methane emissions even further will not be bogged down with competing requirements. It is one step closer to creating a marketplace for a cleaner, less methane-intensive natural gas product,” says Hassenboehler.
The DGCC’s comments precede a larger launch of the coalition that will take place in March ahead of the CERAWeek annual energy conference.
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Established in 2022, the DGCC is an ad hoc coalition of stakeholders across the natural gas supply chain dedicated to expanding the market for low methane, “differentiated” natural gas. Its members include academics; downstream, midstream, and upstream energy producers; gas customers; and technology companies. The DGCC’s goal is to facilitate a federal pathway for state regulators, utilities, and gas consumers to accept differentiated gas as an important option to meet their climate goals. We believe that the adoption of differentiated gas is the best way to rapidly reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector—a win for American energy producers, energy consumers, and the climate.