EPA seeks public comments on revised air quality permits for Shell's Arctic oil exploration activities (AK)
(Seattle - July 1, 2011) Today, EPA released draft air quality permits for Shell Oil Company's exploratory oil drilling operations in Alaska's Arctic Outer Continental Shelf consistent with the work schedule that EPA has been pursuing for several months. This process will allow the public and other key stakeholders to provide important input and feedback on permits needed for the Discover drillship and supporting fleet of icebreakers, oil spill response vessels, and supply ships operations in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas beginning in the 2012 drilling season.
Shell's proposed exploration drilling
operations would emit more than 250 tons of air pollutants a year
and therefore, under existing law, must have federal Clean Air Act
Prevention of Significant Deterioration Permits. The permits would
set limits on air pollution from these vessels.
EPA previously issued the two permits to Shell in March and April
of 2010. These permits were then appealed by outside groups to
EPA's independent Environmental Appeals Board, which overturned
them in December 2010. EPA Region 10 has since revised the
draft permits to address the issues raised by the Appeals Board in
light of the outside groups’ complaints. Among other
changes, the revised permits have reduced emissions of most key air
pollutants by more than 50 percent from the levels allowed in the
2010 permits. These reductions are largely due to the new NO2
standard that went into effect after the permits were issued last
year.
The draft permits are subject to a 30-day public comment period as
well as a public hearing before EPA issues final permits.
EPA's air permits ensure compliance with air quality regulations
when and if drilling commences, but on their own do not authorize
drilling. BOEMRE is the federal agency that provides
authorization to drill in offshore federal waters. Find out more
about BOEMRE at: http://www.boemre.gov/
EPA will accept public comments on the revised draft permits
through August 5 and at a public hearing in Barrow, Alaska on
August 4. Final permits will be issued after comments from
the public and key stakeholders are reviewed and considered.
The comment period officially begins on July 6. Public comments
must be postmarked or emailed to EPA Region 10 by August 5, 2011.
The revised draft permits and supporting information as well
as details about the public hearing are available on the web
at:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/AIRPAGE.NSF/Permits/ocsap/.
EPA Region 10 is currently working on two
additional Clean Air Act permits for oil and gas exploration
beginning in the 2012 and 2013 drilling seasons. Shell has
also applied for a permit to operate its vessel, Kulluk, in the
Beaufort Sea starting in 2012 and ConocoPhillips has applied for a
permit for oil and gas exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea
starting in 2013.
More information about the Environmental Appeals Board can be found
at:
http://www.epa.gov/eab/