MT Officials Withdraw Request That EPA Support "Drill First, Register Later, No Permit" Policy

BILLINGS, Mont. — State officials have withdrawn their request for federal regulators to approve air-quality rules that let Montana's oil and gas industry drill first and attain emission approvals later. Adopted in 2005 and 2006, the rules have drawn criticism for giving companies 60 days after drilling to register with the state, with no emissions permit required.

Montana Department of Environmental Quality Director Richard Opper said Tuesday the state wants to retain the rules but needs time to rework its request to the Environmental Protection Agency. The rules will remain in place in the interim, he said. "We really like that program," Opper said. "Permitting every well would be very inefficient for us. This saves time, it protects the environment — it works."

More than 900 oil and gas facilities, many with multiple wells, have been registered under the program.

The withdrawal of Montana's request for approval comes after the EPA said in January it planned to reject the state's rules because they violate the Clean Air Act. A final decision from the agency was due this week, but Gov. Brian Schweitzer withdrew the request in a letter Monday to EPA regional director Jim Martin.

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http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/0bfab560a60f4dd9a4cb3a63618d9344/MT--EPA-Montana-Air-Quality/