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Letters and Comments Jul 1, 2019

Re: Comments on Proposed Rule to Reclassify the American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) from Endangered to Threatened on the Federal List and Proposed Endangered Species Act Section 4(d) Rule FWS-R2-ES-2018-0029

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IPAA supports the proposed rules to downlist and reclassify the American Burying Beetle from “endangered” to “threatened” status. IPAA respectfully submits our comments with the attached report ( ASL-IPAA-TPPF-Carothers-Beetle-Delist-Petition-2015.pdf (1183 downloads ) ) conducted by the SWCA Environmental Consultants and commissioned by the IPAA and other parties in 2015. The data in this report is frequently referenced in the comments below.

Letters and Comments Jun 27, 2019

Summary
In considering viable options and opportunities for water reuse, we encourage EPA to consider ways to provide maximum flexibility, certainty, and clarity to the existing regulatory and permitting frameworks applicable to the management of water from all industries (including the oil and natural gas industry). Variability among multi-jurisdictional bodies that regulate water quality and water reuse can result in complex jurisdictional interplays that place inconsistent regulatory burdens upon companies. While respecting that some variation is a natural consequence of cooperative federalism, the draft WRAP should work towards identifying and removing barriers within the federal government’s control that discourage and disincentivize the reuse, recycling, and fit-for-treatment uses of water. We support EPA working with various stakeholders, including the oil and gas sector, to better understand the current regulatory framework as well as the data and knowledge base that is in place.

Below, we provide specific comments following the Discussion Framework’s format on a section by- section basis for your consideration. Based on our extensive experience, we highlight issues, challenges, and recommendations with particular focus on the upstream areas of the oil and gas sector.

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Letters and Comments, Methane Jun 17, 2019

Dear Administrator Wheeler:
The following Supplemental Comments are submitted on the above-referenced proposed Reconsideration Rulemaking (“Reconsideration Rulemaking”) on behalf of the following national and state trade associations: the Independent Petroleum Association of America (“IPAA”), American Exploration & Production Council (“AXPC”), Domestic Energy Producers Alliance (“DEPA”), Eastern Kansas Oil & Gas Association (“EKOGA”), Illinois Oil & Gas Association (“IOGA”), Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, Inc. (“IOGA-WV”), Indiana Oil and Gas Association (“INOGA”), International Association of Drilling Contractors (“IADC”), Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association (“KIOGA”), Kentucky Oil & Gas Association (“KOGA”), Michigan Oil and Gas Association (“MOGA”), National Stripper Well Association (“NSWA”), North Dakota Petroleum Council (“NDPC”), Ohio Oil and Gas Association (“OOGA”), Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (“OIPA”), Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (“PIOGA”), Texas Alliance of Energy Producers (“Texas Alliance”), Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (“TIPRO”), and West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (“WVONGA”) (collectively, “Independent Producers”). The Independent Producers have participated individually or through the Independent Producers in most, if not all, of the rulemakings and associated litigation since the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA” or “Agency”) proposed to revise the New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) for the Oil and Natural Gas Sector in August 2011. 76 Fed. Reg. 52,738 (Aug. 23, 2011).1 While many of the Independent Producers represent companies that engage in large volume hydraulic fracturing with horizontal legs, often referred to as unconventional drilling, a significant portion of their membership is also comprised of smaller, family run operations that engage in some form of hydraulic fracturing, involving vertical wells without horizontal legs, referred to as conventional oil or natural gas wells. Many of the individual members constitute small businesses under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

These supplemental comments are filed by the Independent Producers in response to initial comments and supplemental comments filed by others, including some that directly address the Independent Producers initial comments (filed December 17, 2018).

Letters and Comments Jun 7, 2019

Re: Comments of the American Petroleum Institute, the American Exploration & Production Council, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance, and the Marcellus Shale Coalition in Response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Request for Comments on the Interpretative Statement on Application of the Clean Water Act Discharge Elimination System Program to Releases of Pollutants From a Point Source to Groundwater; EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0166.

Dear Sir/Madam:
This letter provides comments from the American Petroleum Institute (“API”), Association of Oil Pipe Lines (“AOPL”), American Exploration & Production Council (“AXPC”), Independent Petroleum Association of America (“IPAA”), Domestic Energy Producers Alliance (“DEPA”), and the Marcellus Shale Coalition (“MSC”) (collectively, “the Associations”), responding to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA’s” or “The Agency’s”) Request for Comments on the Interpretative Statement on Application of the Clean Water Act (“CWA” or “the Act”) Discharge Elimination System Program to Releases of Pollutants From a Point Source to Groundwater (“Interpretative Statement”).1 The Associations appreciate both EPA’s efforts to provide long overdue clarification on the scope of the CWA’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) program and the Agency’s commitment to pursue that clarity through transparent
stakeholder engagement.

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Letters and Comments May 24, 2019

Re: Comments on Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Rulemaking [Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0855]

To whom it may concern:

The Independent Petroleum Association of America (“IPAA”) submits the following comments for pre-proposal recommendations on the forthcoming Clean Water Act (“CWA”) Section 401 Water Quality Certification rulemaking and guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”).

IPAA represents the thousands of companies that drill 95 percent of America’s onshore and offshore oil and natural gas wells. America’s independents produce 54 percent of American oil and produce 85 percent of American natural gas.  While most IPAA members will not apply directly for a Sec. 401 permit, our members are affected by the process.  When some states misuse their authority as part of a cooperative process, permits are denied and needed infrastructure to transport natural gas is not built….

Infrastructure, Letters and Comments Apr 15, 2019

In an April 15 letter, the members of the Natural Gas Council (NGC)- AGA, API, IPAA, INGAA and NGSA-urged President Trump to nominate new Commissioners to fill the current vacancy and the forthcoming vacancy at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as soon as possible.

FERC serves the critical role of approving construction of interstate natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, and is the lead federal agency for coordinating all federal authorizations for such projects. FERC currently has only four commissioners, which creates the potential for a 2-2 deadlock in voting on certificate applications. Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur’s term is set to expire this summer, which will create a second vacancy.

The NGC letter expressed thanks for issuance of the Executive Orders on April 10, 2019, aimed at speeding up the review, permitting, and construction of natural gas pipelines and other energy infrastructure. “A full complement of FERC Commissioners is critical to achieve the administration’s goal to streamline the review and permitting of natural gas infrastructure projects.”

Letters and Comments Apr 15, 2019

“Dear Administrator Wheeler:
Western Energy Alliance, American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC), Domestic Energy Producers Alliance (DEPA) and the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) (collectively “the agencies”) proposed revisions to the definition of Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). We think the agencies are headed in the right direction and the revised definition of WOTUS (proposed rule) will provide greater clarity, predictability, certainty, and consistency for federal agencies, states, tribes, the regulated community, landowners, and the general public…”

Letters and Comments Apr 15, 2019

“This letter provides comments from the American Petroleum Institute (“API”), the Independent Petroleum Association of America (“IPAA”), the American Exploration and Production Council (“AXPC”), and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (“AOPL”) (collectively, “the Associations”) in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA’s”) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (“Army Corps’”) (collectively, “the Agencies”) Proposed Rule to Define “Waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”) (“Proposed WOTUS Rule”).1 The Associations welcome the Agencies’ commitment to transparent rulemaking and effective stakeholder engagement, and appreciate the opportunity to provide these comments and recommendations…”

Letters and Comments Apr 15, 2019

In comments filed by the Waters Advocacy Coalition, IPAA joined a large cross-section of the nation’s construction, transportation, real estate, mining, manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, energy, wildlife conservation, and public health and safety sectors supporting EPA’s step in realigning the WOTUS definition with Congress’s intent for the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.

“The Waters Advocacy Coalition (“WAC” or “Coalition”) writes to provide comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (“Corps”) proposed rule to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”) under the Clean Water Act (“CWA” or the “Act”), 84 Fed. Reg. 4154 (Feb. 14, 2019) (the “proposed rule”). WAC appreciates the agencies’ efforts to increase predictability and consistency by clarifying the scope of WOTUS regulated under the Act. In enacting the CWA, Congress exercised its commerce power over navigation and granted EPA and the Corps (together, the “agencies”) specific, limited powers to regulate “navigable waters,” defined in the CWA as “waters of the United States.” For years, the agencies’ regulations and guidance documents have attempted to expand the WOTUS definition beyond its constitutional and statutory limits, and this proposed rule is an important step in re-aligning the WOTUS definition with Congress’s intent for the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Act. The proposed rule gives meaning to the term “navigable” and recognizes that a defining feature of the CWA is to preserve the states’ traditional and primary authority over land and water use, attempting to restore the appropriate balance between state and federal oversight authority in this area…”

Letters and Comments Apr 11, 2019

IPAA submitted April 15 comments jointly with API and NGSA in an ISO-New England proceeding at FERC (Docket No. ER19-1428).

The comments support ISO-New England’s proposed Inventoried Energy Program and its recognition of the “essential role that natural gas-fired generation resources play in supporting fuel security by including them as eligible recipients of inventoried energy payments.” It is important for natural gas producers, electricity consumers, and electric grid reliability for the organized electric markets to ensure that “all resources have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field and be appropriately compensated for the service they provide.”

IPAA is the industry's strongest presence in the nation's capital and these are important times. The entire oil and gas industry remains under fire from anti-development groups; but with these challenges arise unique opportunities that IPAA is seizing for our members.