EPA 'hampered' in ability to measure emissions

Hampered: poor data limits EPA's ability to measure emissions

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Luke Johnson

 22 February 2013 22:18 GMT

Poor data sets and unreliable estimates hamper the ability of the US Environmental Protection Agency to regulate emissions from oil and gas operations, an agency watchdog said in a report this week.

US Inspector General Arthur Elkins said in the report that the EPA was caught off guard with the rapid development of US oil and gas production and does not have the tools necessary to accurately measure emissions from things like well completions and "evaporative ponds".

"With limited data, human health risks are uncertain, states may design incorrect or ineffective emission control strategies, and EPA’s decisions about regulating industry may be misinformed," Elkins says in the report.

The rate of greenhouse gas emissions from onshore oil and gas drilling has been one…

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