In the Hot Seat: Drilling into the Administration's Plans to Regulate Methane Emissions from the Oil and Gas Sector

When
June 4, 2015 10:00 am — 5:00 pm
Where
Washington, DC (and via webcast)

This summer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to propose rules addressing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. This action is anticipated to be the first direct regulation of methane emissions as a greenhouse gas, which, in addition to being the primary component of natural gas, has an EPA global warming potential much more significant than that of carbon dioxide. To meet the Obama Administration’s goal to cut oil and gas sector methane emissions by 40 to 45 percent by 2025 from 2012 levels, EPA is targeting new and modified oil and gas production sources, as well as natural gas processing and transmission sources. 

EPA’s announcement of its forthcoming action has fueled considerable debate as domestic oil and gas production has reached historic levels in a volatile price market. Are existing federal regulations of volatile organic compounds from oil and gas wells sufficient to reduce methane emissions? What are states doing in this space and are state regulations and voluntary reductions enough? Will existing methane emission sources be regulated next? What other federal agencies are considering methane regulation? These, and other important questions, were discussed in this day-long program featuring leading experts addressing the most important aspects of this rulemaking.

Agenda

9:30 am Registration opens
9:55 am Welcome
10:00 am Setting the Scene: Methane Regulation for Oil and Gas Sector–Statutory Framework and EPA Process
  • Paul Gunning, Director, Climate Change Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
10:30 am

New Source Performance Standards for Methane from Oil and Gas Sector under Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act and Potential Implications for Existing Sources

  • Shannon Broome, Chair, Air Quality and Climate Change Practice, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (moderator)
  • Paul Gunning, Director, Climate Change Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • David Doniger, Director, Climate & Clean Air Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Gretchen Kern, Senior Regulatory and Environmental Policy Advisor-Sustainable Development, Pioneer Natural Resources
11:45 am

Luncheon Speaker: Implications of U.S. Methane Strategy in International Context

  • Kevin Kennedy, Deputy Director, U.S. Climate Initiative, World Resources Institute
12:15 pm

Break
12:30 pm

Voluntary Initiatives: What Are They and Does More Need to be Done?
1:30 pm

State Regulations and the Potential Issuance of Control Technique Guidelines Under Section 183 of the Clean Air Act:  What is the Right Approach?

  • Bill Wehrum, Hunton & Williams LLP (moderator)
  • Amy Farrell, Vice President, Market Development, America's Natural Gas Alliance
  • John Jacus, Partner, Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP
  • Andres Restrepo, Attorney, Sierra Club
2:30 pm Break
2:45 pm

Beyond the EPA: Pipelines, Flaring and Leaks

  • Alexandra Dunn, Executive Director & General Council, Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) (moderator)
  • Theresa Pugh, Vice President of Environmental Policy, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
  • Tomás Carbonell, Senior Attorney, Climate and Air Program, Environmental Defense Fund
3:30 pm

Key Issues for Industry in Managing Methane

  • Rick Saines, Partner, Baker & McKenzie (moderator)
  • Bob Perciasepe, President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
  • Howard Feldman, Senior Director, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, American Petroleum Institute
4:45 pm Wrap-up
5:00 pm Please join us for a reception hosted by Baker & McKenzie

 

Materials:
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