Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards for the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category; OMB Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction Act: Technical Amendment

EPA is publishing final regulations establishing technology- based effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the discharge of synthetic-based drilling fluids (SBFs) and other non-aqueous drilling fluids from oil and gas drilling operations into waters of the United States. Oil and gas extraction facilities generate cuttings wastes from drilling operations. This regulation applies to existing and new sources that perform oil and natural gas extraction drilling in certain offshore and coastal waters. The final rule allows a controlled discharge of SBF-cuttings anywhere offshore of Alaska and offshore of the rest of the United States beyond three miles from shore. This regulation prohibits discharge of such fluids in coastal Cook Inlet, Alaska, unless certain findings are made by the permit authority. The final rule prohibits the discharge of SBFs not associated with drill cuttings into all waters of the United States. Compliance with this rule is estimated to reduce the annual discharge of cuttings by 118 million pounds per year for new and existing sources. This rule will also lead to a decrease of 2,927 tons of air emissions and 200,817 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per year for new and existing sources. EPA estimates that the rule will result in annual savings of $48.9 million and no adverse economic impacts to the industry as a whole. EPA also incorporated Best Management Practices (BMPs) into the final rule to provide industry with additional flexibility in meeting today's final rule. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this action also makes a technical amendment to the table in part 9 that lists the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers issued under the PRA for today's final rule. EPA is amending part 9 to include the OMB control number for the information collection requirements associated with the BMPs promulgated in today's final rule.