The Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation will soon have new regulations to consider when it comes to emissions from oil and natural gas operations. Though not yet published in the Federal Register, the EPA approved the ‘Federal Implementation Plan for Managing Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Sources on Indian Country Lands within the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Utah.’ The plan will require the Ute Tribe to report emissions every three years to the EPA, implement emissions control technology to oil and gas equipment as well as leak detection measures to limit emissions. While this is new for the tribal lands of the Ute Tribe, the EPA closely monitors Uintah Basin air quality, which is currently in “marginal” nonattainment of EPA air quality standards.
