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State and trends


in wintertime. This is due to a combination of emissions associated with natural gas development, topography and meteorology which trap the emissions in valleys, and clear skies and snow-covered ground, which reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere driving the photochemical production of ozone, even at cold temperatures (Field et al. 2014). To address the methane and volatile organic compound by- products of oil and gas development, the US EPA’s Natural Gas STAR programme encourages industry, in the US and abroad, to adopt proven, cost-effective technologies and practices that improve operational efficiency and decrease emission. Voluntary programmes, such as Natural Gas STAR, give regulated entities options to reduce emissions in advance of regulatory requirements. In addition, the US EPA recently proposed a suite of regulatory requirements to help combat climate change, reduce air pollution and clarify permit requirements for the oil and natural gas industry (US EPA 2015).


These programmes are showing promising results. During calendar year 2014, 61 per cent of US partners submitted annual reports detailing their 2013 voluntary activities that resulted in domestic emissions reductions of around 1.44 billion cubic metres for the year (Figure 2.1.10). These methane emissions reductions have cross-cutting benefits on domestic energy supply, industrial efficiency, revenue generation and greenhouse gas emission reductions. The 2013 emission reductions are equivalent to: •


revenue of more than USD200 million in natural gas sales, assuming an average natural gas price of USD 4.00 per thousand cubic feet (28.3 cubic metres);


• the avoidance of 24 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent;


• the carbon sequestered annually by 7.7 million hectares of US forests.


Real time data and small sensors


The AirNow programme (www.airnow.gov) was started by the US EPA in 1997 as a way of sharing real-time air quality data with the public. Currently, AirNow provides daily coverage of ozone and particulate levels for the US, Canada


Figure 2.1.10: Sources of voluntary methane emission reductions reported by the oil and gas industry to US EPA’s Natural Gas STAR programme, 2014


0.5% 17% 2%


81% Percentage


Gathering and Processing Production


Source: US EPA 2015


and much of Mexico. In addition, forecasts are available in more than 400 cities across the US. The AirNow programme has demonstrated the value of providing citizens with data they can use to mitigate exposure to unhealthy air (Figure 2.1.11).


Besides a web presence, AirNow established partnerships with media entities such as USA Today, the Weather Channel and weather service providers to get air quality data and forecasts from newspapers, radio, and television.


An AirNow application for smartphones allows users to get this information even more easily – millions of users visit the AirNow website every year. AirNow, which has become an exemplar of how to effectively communicate air quality to the public, has expanded to include international partners and its software is now being used in Shanghai,


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Distribution Transmission


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