Ohio Issues Innovative Package of Methane Permits

Ohio has released a comprehensive package of 22 general permits to regulate methane emissions from compression facilities. By addressing these emissions, the agency says, it can help protect health and the environment in communities at a modest cost. This initiative is meant to enhance existing general permits released last year by Ohio EPA on well pad emissions. Under the new policy, Ohio plans to issue permits for new and modified equipment at compressor stations – facilities that pressurize gas to more efficiently move it through pipelines, and which are a major source of harmful emissions. The new permits will require natural gas companies to check the facilities for leaks on a quarterly basis, using infrared cameras or handheld analyzers, and quickly fix the leaks they find. Both of these methane permits are innovative with regard to monitoring and requiring the capture of methane emissions, as well as streamlining the permitting process to reduce processing times. [Miller/Parisien]