Frequently Asked Questions: Super Emitter Program
View frequently asked questions about EPA's 2024 final rule for oil and natural gas operations - Super Emitter Program. On this page:
- What is the Super Emitter Program? What is a super emitter event?
- What is EPA’s process in certifying third parties for the Super Emitter Program? What would qualify/disqualify a third party
- How can communities partner with third parties? Is there funding available?
- Can third parties use whatever technology they want to identify emissions?
The Super Emitter Program allows certified entities to submit data to EPA that identifies methane super-emitter events. The program is a detect and notify program, intended to provide a transparent, reliable, and efficient mechanism to provide notifications of methane super-emitter events. Entities applying to be certified third parties must use an EPA-approved technology and show that they have a robust quality assurance system in place for the data submitted to EPA.
A super emitter event is defined in 40 CFR Part 60 Subparts OOOO, OOOOa, OOOOb and OOOOc as “any emissions event that is located at or near an oil and gas natural gas facility (e.g., individual well site, centralized production facility, natural gas processing plant, or compressor station) and that is detected using remote detection methods and has quantified emission rate of 100 kg/hr of methane or greater.”§60.5371, §60.5371a, §60.5371b, and §60.5388c Super-emitter event data submitted to the EPA as part of this program must include, among other things, location, calculated leak rate and associated uncertainty, and the owner/operator of any oil and natural gas facility within 50 meters of the location of the super-emitter event, if available. If the EPA determines the notification is complete and does not contain information that the EPA finds to be erroneous or inaccurate to a reasonable degree of certainty, the EPA will provide the notification to the owner or operator of the oil and natural gas facility identified in the notification. Owners and operators are required to conduct an investigation and provide information about those investigations the event within 15 calendar days of receiving notification. When an emission event has been identified, the owner or operator must report information on that event dependent on the applicability of the source of the emission and is detailed in either §60.5371(b), §60.5371a(b), §60.5371b(e), or §60.5388c(b).
Data that the EPA determines is complete and accurate to a reasonable degree of certainty will be posted at www.epa.gov/super-emitter.
A third party must document the steps that the candidate uses to ensure compliance of their system with the documented methodology for their selected technology, and their ability to report accurately to the Super Emitter Program.
The application requires the following information be submitted to the EPA:
- A general identification of the applicant entity, including the mailing address, physical address, and contact information for the principal officer and certifying officials(s)
- The curriculum vitae of the certifying official
- A description of the EPA approved technology the third party will be using, with the EPA approval control number and any agreements with the technology providers, If applicable.
- Description of the system for maintaining essential records
- The candidate’s Standard Operating Procedure(s) for reviewing and maintaining data collected the EPA approved technology.
- A Quality Management Plan(QMP), consistent with EPA’s QMP Standard Third Party request, must be submitted to U.S. EPA, Attn: Leader, Measurement Technology Group, Mail Drop: E143-02, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12055, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
Note: When a technology provider wishes to also be considered a certified third-party for purposes of the Super Emitter program, they should inform the EPA at the time when they submit their requests for their advanced methane detection technology.
Note: Per § 60.5371b(b)(1), if your submittal includes information claimed to be CBI, submit the portion of the information claimed as CBI to the OAQPS CBI office. The preferred method to receive CBI is for it to be transmitted electronically using email attachments, File Transfer Protocol, or other online file sharing services. Electronic submissions must be transmitted directly to the OAQPS CBI Office at the email address [email protected] and should include clear CBI markings and be flagged to the attention of the Leader, Measurement Technology Group.
The final Super Emitter Program will allow EPA-certified third parties to use EPA-approved technology to identify potential super emitting events. The Agency will certify the third parties, will receive and evaluate data provided by certified third parties, will be responsible for notifying owners and operators and will be responsible for sharing information with the public. Any entity (e.g., community group) may apply to be a certified third-party notifier under the Super Emitter program, provided that they meet the requirements included in the final rule.
The final rule published March 8, 2024, does not include funding for entities to participate in the Super Emitter Program. However, EPA is partnering with the US Department of Energy and its National Energy Technology Laboratory to provide financial assistance for monitoring and reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, as well as technical assistance to help implement solutions for monitoring and reducing methane emissions. As designed by Congress, this financial and technical assistance is intended to complement EPA’s regulatory programs and to help facilitate the transition to a more efficient petroleum and natural gas industry. At this time, EPA is not able to respond to questions regarding potential future funding opportunities.
Certified third party submitters may only use EPA-approved technology that is either satellite detection of methane emissions, remote-sensing equipment located on aircraft, or mobile monitoring platforms. Technology reviews and approvals are conducted by the EPA using the 40 CFR 60.5398b(d) Methane Alternative Test Method review system. Approved technology applications must be submitted following the 40 CFR 60.5398b(d) Methane Alternative Test Method review requirements, and applications will be marked during submission as Super-Emitter Program applications. Approved Super-Emitter Program technologies will receive a control number, which must be referenced by the third-party submitter during submission of data to the EPA Super Emitter Database. If there is any material change to the technology that the third party intends to use, the third party is required to submit a revised certification request and must be recertified by the EPA before implementing those changes.
- If an owner or operator receives a notification from the EPA under the Super Emitter Program, are they required to respond if they are not an oil and natural gas facility covered by NSPS OOOOb or EG OOOOc?
NSPS OOOOb GHG and VOC standards for super-emitter events, located at 40 CFR 60.5371b, establish requirements for responding to a super-emitter event notification provided by the EPA. In the preamble of the rule (89 FR 16820), EPA defined the applicability of the Super Emitter Program as any regulated or unregulated oil and natural gas facility. Under 40 CFR 60.5371b(b), all recipients of a super-emitter event notification must respond to the notification, even those that do not own or operate any equipment regulated by NSPS Subparts OOOO, OOOOa, or OOOOb, or a state, tribal, or federal plan implementing EG OOOOc. The scope of the response, and the extent of the super-emitter event investigation requirement, depends on whether the recipient owns or operates an oil and natural gas facility within 50 meters from the latitude and longitude provided in the EPA notification, and whether there is any source there subject to NSPS OOOO, NSPS OOOOa, or NSPS OOOOb, a state, tribal, or federal plan implementing EG OOOOc.
According to 40 CFR 60.5371b(e)(1)(ii), in your report you must include the “[i]dentification of whether you are the owner or operator of an oil and natural gas facility within 50 meters from the latitude and longitude provided in the EPA notification. If you do not own or operate an oil and natural gas facility within 50 meters from the latitude and longitude provides in the EPA notification, you are not required to report the information in paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) through (viii) of this section.”