Background: Natural Gas STAR Program

NATURAL GAS SUPPLY ASSOCIATION

805 15th Street N.W., Suite 510
Washington, D.C. 20005

Background: Natural Gas STAR Program

In the spring of 1995, NGSA voted to support members' joining the Natural Gas STAR Program, a voluntary Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program to reduce U.S. methane emissions in natural gas production cost-effectively. The Association's endorsement took place after more than six months of discussion between producers and EPA.

Best Management Practices

Under the terms of the endorsement, NGSA makes available to its members information on EPA's Natural Gas STAR program. The program asks participating companies to implement the "best management practices" for methane emissions from production area operations only when cost-effective and operationally feasible. Industry and EPA have identified low-bleed pneumatic devices and flash tank separators for dehydrators as best management practices. However, companies have the flexibility to implement any methane-reducing practice they deem cost-effective.

The STAR program credits participants with reductions in methane emissions back to 1990. While the program does include a reporting structure that will add some costs, the best management practices are already part of normal operations as many companies precisely because of their cost-benefit ratio.

Provisions of the Natural Gas STAR Producer Endorsement

Following is the text of the endorsement NGSA signed regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's Natural Gas STAR Program for production:

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) represents integrated and independent energy producers and gas marketing companies that produce or market over 90% of U.S. domestic natural gas.

The Natural Gas Supply Association supports in principle the Natural Gas STAR Program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and endorses the participation of its members in the program.

The Natural Gas Supply Association supports the EPA Natural Gas STAR Program goal of reducing gas losses by implementing cost-effective practices. NGSA finds the Natural Gas STAR Program to be consistent with NGSA's policy of promoting flexible, voluntary initiatives that are cost effective and promote efficiency while enhancing the environmental stewardship of natural gas operations.

The Natural Gas Supply Association recognizes the relationship between the use of new and existing technologies and the opportunity to protect the environment by reducing methane emissions to the atmosphere. NGSA agrees to jointly promote and host bi-annual implementation workshops with EPA to further support the EPA Natural Gas STAR Program and its principals.

NGSA and EPA agree to work together to identify and remove unjustified regulatory barriers to the efficient production, delivery, and consumption of natural gas.

During the term of this agreement, The Natural Gas Supply Association and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency agree that either party may publicize the fact that this agreement has been made.

Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and The Natural Gas Supply Association recognize that this endorsement is a voluntary action, and may be terminated by either party at any time, for any reason, without notice or penalty.

April 1995

This page was last updated August 31, 1997.