Oil and Gas Facilities: Air Compliance Information

Air contaminants from upstream oil and gas operations are of concern to the TCEQ. Benzene, among others, is of particular interest because it is a known carcinogen and is often present in hydrocarbon emissions from these facilities.

Air Compliance Information

Title 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 116, Subchapter B requires facilities that may emit air contaminants to obtain authorization prior to construction. The type of authorization required will depend on the type of facility and amount of contaminants emitted.

Air Permitting Options

• De Minimis – Determine if your site is covered under the De Minimis rule.
• Permits by Rule (PBR) – Facilities that are not de minimis may qualify for a PBR. In order for a facility to claim a PBR, it must meet the emission limitations in 30 TAC 106.4 as well as other requirements in 30 TAC Chapter 106, such as the recordkeeping requirements in 30 TAC 106.8 .
  • Oil and Gas Handling and Production Facilities (30 TAC 106.352) – information including applicability, registration information, and an emissions-calculation spreadsheet tool.
  • Planned Maintenance, Startup, and Shutdown at Oil and Gas Production and handling Facilities (30 TAC 106.359) – Information including applicability, authorization, and guidance tools related to this permit.
  • Industry-Specific Permits By Rule for Oil and Gas Facilities.
  • Permits by Rule for Oil and Gas Facilities (30 TAC Subchapter O).
• Standard Permit – Facilities that cannot meet a PBR may qualify for a standard permit.
  • Air Quality Standard Permit for Oil and Gas Facilities – Information including applicability, registration information, and an emissions-calculation spreadsheet tool.
• New Source Review (NSR) Permit – Facilities that cannot qualify for a PBR or a standard permit must be authorized with an NSR permit. These rules are located in 30 TAC, Chapter 116, Subchapter B.
  • NSR Permits – Additional information about NSR rules.
• Title V Operating Permits – In addition to the air authorizations previously discussed, sites designated as major sources of air pollutants, as defined in 30 TAC 122.10 (13) are required to obtain a Title V Operating Permit.
  • Air GOP No. 511: Oil and Gas General Operating Permit
  • Air GOP No. 514: Oil and Gas General Operating Permit
• Tools
  • Oil and Gas Emissions Calculation Spreadsheet – for use in estimating emissions from sites involved in the production of oil and gas.
  • Additional tools can be found on the Air Quality Standard Permit for Oil and Gas Facilities webpage.
  • STEERS E-Permitting Resources:
    • TCEQ Interoffice Memorandum: Permit-by-rule and Standard Permit Registration Application Procedures
    • RG-531a: A Guide to Creating an Account in STEERS E-Permitting
    • RG-531b: A Guide to Obtaining Permits by Rule Authorizations in STEERS E-Permitting

Back to top

• Control of Air Pollution from:
  • Visible Emissions and Particulate Matter (30 TAC Chapter 111) – Requirements that may apply to sites with a combustion source. (30 TAC Chapter 111.111-111.113 )
  • Sulfur Compounds (30 TAC Chapter 112) - Requirements that may apply to sour sites.
    • Net ground-level concentration limits and exemptions for SO₂. (30 TAC 112.3-112.4 )
    • Net ground-level concentration limits for H₂S. (30 TAC 112.31-112.32 )
  • Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Sources (30 TAC Chapter 115) – Requirements that may apply to facilities in the Beaumont–Port Arthur, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Houston Ozone Nonattainment Areas.
    • Storage of VOCs. (30 TAC 115.110-115.119 )
    • Vent Gas Control. (30 TAC 115.121-115.129 )
    • Note: Remember to include formaldehyde when quantifying VOC emissions. Formaldehyde (CH₂O) is often overlooked, but is in fact a VOC.
  • Nitrogen Compounds (NO_x).(30 TAC Chapter 117)
    • Combustion Control at Major Sources. (30 TAC Chapter 117, Subchapter B )
    • Requirements that may apply to facilities in the Beaumont–Port Arthur, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Houston Ozone Nonattainment Areas.
    • Requirements that apply to East Texas
      • East Texas Combustion Rules. (30 TAC Chapter 117, Subchapter E, Division 4)
  • Emissions Inventory
    • Owners and operators of facilities may also be subject to emissions inventory requirements located in 30 TAC §101.10. An emissions inventory must be submitted for facilities (sites) that have the potential to emit 100 tons per year (TPY) of any regulated pollutant, are a major source as defined in 30 TAC 116.2, or that operate in an ozone nonattainment area and emit more than 10 TPY of VOCs or 25 TPY of NO_x, or emit or have the potential to emit 10 TPY of any single hazardous air pollutant (HAP) or 25 TPY of aggregate HAPs.
      • Point Source Emissions Inventory – More information on emissions inventory requirements.
      • Report on Area Source Emissions Factors – the report contains refined factors to estimate county-level area source emissions from condensate storage tanks.
      • Call the Emissions Inventory Hotline, 512-239-1773, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
    • Federal regulations that may apply to your facility are indexed at 40 CFR Part 63 - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories. The following subparts may apply:
      • Subpart H – Organic Hazardous Air Pollutants for Equipment Leaks
      • Subpart V – Equipment Leaks (Fugitive Emission Sources)
      • Subpart HH – Oil and Natural Gas Production Facilities
      • Subpart VV – Oil-Water Separators and Organic-Water Separators
      • Subpart HHH – Natural Gas Transmission and Storage Facilities
      • Subpart YYYY – Stationary Combustion Turbines
      • Subpart ZZZZ – Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines
  • New Source Performance Standards
    • Federal regulations that may apply to your facility are indexed at 40 CFR Part 60 – Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources. The following subparts may apply:
      • Subpart A – General Provisions (included requirements for flares)
      • Subparts K and Ka – Storage Vessels for Petroleum Liquids
      • Subpart Kb – Volatile Organic Liquid Storage Vessels (including Liquid Storage)
      • Subpart GG – Stationary Gas Turbines
      • Subpart KKK – Equipment Leaks of VOC from Onshore Natural Gas Processing Plants
      • Subpart LLL – Onshore Natural Gas Processing: SO2 Emissions
      • Subpart IIII – Stationary Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engines
      • Subpart JJJJ – Stationary Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Engines
      • Subpart KKKK – Stationary Combustion Engines
      • Subpart OOOO – Oil and Natural Gas (Additional Information)
        • The TCEQ has streamlined the process and shortened the form for Well Completion/Flowback Notification
        • Subpart OOOOa – Oil and Natural Gas (Additional Information )
        • Compliance Guide for the Oil and Natural Gas Sector concerning the new 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart OOOOa
        • EPA requirements for storage tanks used in oil and natural gas production
        • Subpart OOOOb – Oil and Natural Gas (Additional Information )
        • Legally and Practicably Enforceable (LPE) Criteria for New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) OOOOb
        • Certification of NSPS OOOOb LPE Criteria - Form LPE-CERT (TCEQ Form-20992)
        • Small Entity Compliance Guide For Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart OOOOb
  • Air Operating Permits (Title V)
    • Title V Federal Air Operating Permits are required when a site becomes a major source, and are in addition to the authorizations required by 30 TAC 116, Subchapter B.
    • Definition of a Major Source
    • Texas Attainment Status by Region
    • Note: Facilities with a cumulative total of more than 3,000 horsepower from all engines at a site may meet the threshold for major source, due to formaldehyde emissions.

Back to top

Please click on one of the following links for more information about oil and gas compliance.

• Water Compliance Information
• Waste Compliance Information
• Publications and Guidance Documents
• Additional Compliance Information and Resources
• Back To General Information

Where can I find more information and assistance?

The TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government Assistance Section offers free, confidential help to small businesses and local governments working to comply with state environmental regulations. Call us at 800-447-2827 or visit our Web page at TexasEnviroHelp.org.

Back to top