Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and Department of Environmental Protection Sec. Patrick McDonnell jointly announced new general permits for unconventional natural gas wells and compression, processing, and transmission facilities that they said will reduce air pollution and establish a methane emissions control threshold.
“These permits represent the first step of my methane-reduction strategy and my administration’s continuing commitment to cleaner, healthier air across the commonwealth,” Wolf said June 7.
The permits, which go into effect on Aug. 8, represent a win-win outcome because they will help Pennsylvania’s gas industry control methane emissions that cost producers, pipelines, and utilities money, while helping make communities healthier with cleaner air, Wolf said.
As the nation’s second-biggest gas producer behind Texas, Pennsylvania is in a unique position to lead the US addressing climate change while supporting and ensuring responsible energy development, and protecting public health and the environment, Wolf said.
McDonnell said the newly revised general permits, Final GP-5 and Final GP-5A, will be required for new compression, processing, and transmission stations along pipelines, and new gas wells, respectively.
“The permits for new unconventional gas wells and new compression, processing and transmission stations along pipelines are some of the first in the nation to comprehensively address methane emissions from all equipment and processes. They also address other types of air pollution that contribute to poor air quality,” the PDEP secretary said.
The permits also set thresholds on other types of air pollution, such as volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and nitrogen oxides, McDonnell said. Operators will be required to meet federal new source standards and state best available technology requirements included in the permit conditions for equipment and processes to control emissions, he said.
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