“Recent and projected growth in the oil and gas production sector has underscored the need for EPA to gain a better understanding of emissions and potential risks from this industry sector. Harmful pollutants emitted from this industry include air toxics such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene; criteria pollutants and ozone precursors such as NOx and VOCs; and greenhouse gases such as methane. These pollutants can result in serious health impacts such as cancer, respiratory disease, aggravation of respiratory illnesses, and premature death. However, EPA has limited directly-measured air emissions data on criteria and toxic air pollutants for several important oil and gas production processes. This limited data, coupled with poor quality and insufficient emission factors and incomplete NEI data, hamper EPA’s ability to assess air quality impacts from selected oil and gas production activities.

EPA is currently engaging in efforts to collect additional emissions data, but these studies have been limited in scope and future funding is uncertain. The Agency does not have a comprehensive, cross-office strategy for prioritizing air emissions data needs and developing action plans to address those needs. In our view, a comprehensive strategy would help EPA better manage the collection of needed data on air emissions from the oil and gas production sector.” Recommendations follow this conclusion.