“The data show that emissions from drilling represent a small fraction of air pollution in the state, which has gone down considerably since shale gas development began in earnest several years ago,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said.
For the inventory, 57 operators of unconventional wells and 40 mid-stream operators of 150 compressor stations reported data.
Since 2008, air emissions across the state are declining. While unconventional gas production and processing emitted 16,542 tons of nitrogen oxides in 2011, emissions of the same pollutant have fallen 43,000 tons per year.
DEP is in the midst of a year-long air monitoring study in Washington County in the southwest region of the state to determine potential air quality impacts associated with the processing and transmission of unconventional natural gas. The data from the study will allow DEP to assess any potential long-term impact of emissions from unconventional natural gas operations to nearby communities.
DEP must submit a comprehensive air emissions inventory to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) every three years. DEP recently announced, for the next inventory submission due March 1, 2013, that conventional oil and gas compressor stations must report emissions data for 2012.
On 31 January 2013 DEP announced significantly lower allowable emissions for compressor stations permitted under a general permit, called GP-5 (see March 2013 Emissions Monitor)
What this means to you
Pennsylvania is monitoring natural gas emissions data as a requirement of the EPA. DEP’s monitoring includes a requirement that oil and gas compressor stations must report emissions data for 2012. On 31 January 2013 DEP announced lower allowable emission limits for compressor stations.
MIRATECH can help
Contact MIRATECH to reduce NOx, CO, NMNEHC, HAP’s and noise emissions at Pennsylvania non major-source compressor stations. Rich burn engines use 3-way catalysts, while lean burn engines use oxidation catalysts to reduce CO, NMNEHC, and HAP’s and SCR catalysts for NOx control.
