WASHINGTON, November 10, 2016 – API Senior Director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Howard J. Feldman issued the following statement regarding the EPA’s analysis and release of the Oil and Gas Information Collection Request (ICR).  

“Industry innovation and existing federal and state standards continue to drive progress and air quality has dramatically improved. We are second to no one in the reduction of carbon emissions, even as the United States leads the world in oil and natural gas production. 

“EPA’s decision to extend the timeframe for collecting appropriate data for the ICR is a good first step, though the failure to resolve significant issues with its operator and facility contact information database before releasing the ICR could render the collected data skewed and therefore useless. EPA should ensure accurate data that are representative of existing sources of methane emissions across all segments of our industry can be collected in this effort.

“Furthermore, industry should have the opportunity, following completion of the ICR, to review and comment on any analyses developed by EPA, as the federal government determines whether or how to regulate existing operations in the oil and natural gas sector.

“EPA should avoid imposing additional, unnecessary burdens on a promising U.S. energy renaissance that has reduced emissions to near 20-year lows and saved drivers $550 in fuel costs and saving American household’s $1337 in energy expenditures in 2015.”

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 30 million Americans.