EPA Drafts New Air Quality Rules Regarding Ice-Breaking Vessel in Alaska

Do folks remember this story? At the time I found the whole story incredible. The EPA was going to shut down an operation in which billions had been spent in the understanding that the oil industry was meeting all requirements, but then, out of nowhere, it seemed the EPA had established new standards.

Now, out of the blue, it appears EPA is about to reverse its decision.

Shell previously received permits from EPA in March and April of 2010, but environmental and other organizations appealed the decision to the agency’s independent Environmental Appeals Board, which overturned them in December.

The permits are required under the Clean Air Act because the Discoverer drillship and supporting vessels are expected to emit more than 250 tons/year of pollutants, which would be limited under the permits, EPA said.

It noted that EPA’s Region 10 office revised the draft permits to address issues raised in the appeal. These include reductions by more than 50% of most key pollutants from levels allowed in the 2010 permits, largely due to a new nitrogen dioxide standard which went into effect after EPA issued the original permits.

“Many years of work have gone into achieving these permits, and the support from Alaska to Washington, DC, has been tremendous,” the Shell spokesman said. “We believe the work we have done to further modify and reduce our air emissions to meet new standards meets the goal of having no impact on the environment or coastal villages.”

Even a positive ruling from the EPA will not be the end of the story. 

The EPA permits assure compliance with air quality regulations, but do not in and of themselves authorize drilling, the air quality regulator emphasized. That decision must come from the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement.

The permitorium continues. Be sure to read the story linked at the beginning of this post to get the full story. An ice-breaking vessel was at the center of the storm; given enough global warming and delay by the EPA, the ice-breaking vessel may not be needed.