New EPA Rules to Reduce Pollution from Oil and Gas Companies
Official: Reconsideration of Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review
Reading: EPA's 'reconsideration' of oil and natural gas sector standards typically involves relaxing or delaying emission limits previously established under the Clean Air Act.
The rules also establish guidelines for existing facilities to reduce their emissions over time.
In clear language
The EPA is reconsidering pollution rules for oil and natural gas companies to address climate concerns. These updated standards will set new limits on how much pollution new, rebuilt, or significantly changed oil and gas facilities can release into the air. The rules also establish guidelines for existing facilities to reduce their emissions over time.
How does this affect you?
Pick the type of resident or organization you most identify with — we'll generate a plain-language breakdown of what changes for you and what you can do about it.
Who does this affect?
- Oil and natural gas companies operating in New Jersey and nationwide
- Communities living near oil and gas facilities, refineries, and processing plants
- Workers in the energy sector and related industries
- New Jersey residents concerned about air quality and climate change
What can you do?
- Learn more about air quality in your area by checking the EPA's AirNow website to see how emissions from nearby facilities affect your community
- Support clean energy alternatives by choosing renewable energy options if available through your utility company
- Contact your New Jersey state representatives to voice support for strong emissions standards
Timeline
- 2026-04-09 (Final rule posted)
In the press
The EPA implemented a methane fee targeting emissions from oil and gas companies and established new rules on methane emissions from the oil and natural gas industry to address the sector's role in global warming.
- AP NewsBiden EPA to charge first-ever ‘methane fee’ for emissions waste by oil and gas companies
- AP NewsUS targets oil and natural gas industry's role in global warming with new rule on methane emissions
Coverage retrieved automatically from major and NJ outlets. Links go to the original reporting; the summary above draws only on these headlines.
No New Jersey official has a verified action on this policy yet.
Related policies
- Regulations.govDec 3, 2025Extension of Deadlines for Oil and Gas Industry Pollution Control Standards
The EPA has extended the deadlines for oil and natural gas companies to meet new pollution control standards that were designed to reduce climate-harmful emissions. This rule gives companies more time to comply with requirements for both new facilities and existing ones. The extension affects federal rules that were originally supposed to take effect sooner.
- NJ LegislatureMay 11, 2026Treating Greenhouse Gas Emissions as Pollution That Needs Regulation
This bill officially recognizes that greenhouse gas emissions—the gases that trap heat and cause climate change—are a serious threat to public health and safety in New Jersey. It updates New Jersey's Air Pollution Control Act from 1954 to treat greenhouse gases the same way the state treats other air pollutants, meaning the government can now regulate and limit them. This legal change gives the state more tools to fight climate change by controlling emissions from industry and other sources.
- Federal RegisterApr 9, 2026EPA updates rules for oil and natural gas companies to control methane and other pollution
The EPA is making technical updates to its rules that control pollution from oil and natural gas operations. The changes focus on how companies handle waste gases through flaring (burning off gas) and how they monitor the energy content of those gases. These are small refinements to rules that were finalized in March 2024, and they don't change the main pollution limits that companies must follow.
- Federal RegisterFeb 18, 2026Federal Government Stops Regulating Vehicle Emissions That Cause Climate Change
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has decided to stop enforcing rules that limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, and engines, reversing a 2009 decision that treated climate-damaging pollution as a public health threat. This means car manufacturers will no longer be required to meet federal standards for reducing emissions that contribute to climate change. This change takes effect in April 2026 and could lead to more pollution from vehicles.