Last week Encino’s Vice President of Regulatory, Sustainability and Technical Services, Ángel Esparza, PhD, PE, SPEC, CESCO, participated in the EPA’s public hearing on the proposed regulation that implement the Waste Emission Charge (WEC) for petroleum and natural gas systems.
This proposed regulation aims to enforce the Clean Air Act’s mandates outlined in the Methane Emissions Reduction Program under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It mandates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to levy an annual fee on methane emissions surpassing specified waste emission thresholds from applicable facilities. These applicable facilities are the ones that are part of the greenhouse gas reporting program (GHRP) (those that generate over 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of greenhouse gases annually. The proposal introduces calculation procedures, flexibility, and exemptions for the waste emissions charge, along with confidentiality determinations for data elements in charge filings.
Encino reaffirms its dedication to supporting the Energy industry’s journey towards sustainability, ensuring its vital role in our energy security and economic well-being. Ángel’s response underscores Encino’s recognition of the energy transition efforts while advocating for an energy transformation approach.
“Encino acknowledges the efforts associated with the so-called energy transition. However, Encino believes in energy transformation, in which all forms of energy have a space and can provide the necessary redundancy during normal and challenging times. Encino believes that this regulatory action must incentivize the use and development of advanced technologies rather than taxing the way toward energy transformation.”
For more information regarding this EPA proposal visit: Regulations.gov in Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0434.
About Encino Environmental
Formed in 2010 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Encino Environmental Services, LLC is an emissions performance testing and monitoring firm that specializes in environmental consulting, combustion analysis, LDAR (leak detection and repair) services, and CEMS (continuous emissions monitoring systems) technology.
Equipment from SENSIA Solutions, a subsidiary of Encino, allows the integration of thermography and AI analytics for the leak detection and quantification (LDAQ) needs. Also, through its joint venture with Satlantis LLC, Encino hosts remote sensing technologies leveraging satellites for the monitoring of methane emissions, as well as advanced environmental data platforms for the measurement and minimization of emissions.
Encino supports permitting, regulatory compliance and strategic ESG initiatives across the U.S. covering all major oil and gas basins and select international markets.
As a service provider, we understand our role in helping clients meet their compliance obligations and achieve their environmental performance objectives. Whether you need one piece of the puzzle, or the entire picture, we can help design and tailor an emissions monitoring and performance program that fits your operational needs, corporate strategy, and budget.
