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 Effluent
Guidelines for Oil and Gas Extraction (Synthetic-Based Drilling Fluids)
Effective February 21, 2001, EPA published final
regulations establishing technology-based effluent limitations guidelines
and standards for the discharge of synthetic-based drilling fluids (SBFs)
and other non-aqueous drilling fluids from oil and gas drilling operations
into waters of the United States.
Oil and gas extraction facilities generate cuttings
wastes from drilling operations. This regulation applies to existing and
new sources that perform oil and natural gas extraction drilling in certain
offshore and coastal waters.
The final rule allows a controlled discharge
of SBF-cuttings anywhere offshore of Alaska and offshore of the rest of
the United States beyond three miles from shore. This regulation prohibits
discharge of such fluids in coastal Cook Inlet, Alaska, unless certain
findings are made by the permit authority. The final rule prohibits the
discharge of SBFs not associated with drill cuttings into all waters of
the United States.
Compliance with this rule is estimated to reduce
the annual discharge of cuttings by 118 million pounds per year for new
and existing sources. This rule will also lead to a decrease of 2,927
tons of air emissions and 200,817 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per
year for new and existing sources. EPA estimates that the rule will result
in annual savings of $48.9 million and no adverse economic impacts to
the industry as a whole. EPA also incorporated Best Management Practices
(BMPs) into the final rule to provide industry with additional flexibility
in meeting today's final rule. Read
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Final Rule
- Clarification
Memo: Standards for Controlling Synthetic-based Drilling Fluid Discharges
(PDF, 271kb, 16 pages) (Oct. 10, 2003)
- Overview
briefing package (PDF file, 218kb, 21 slides) (March 8, 2001)
- Final
rule published in the Federal Register | Print
version (PDF, 1mb, 71 pages) (January 22, 2001)
- Fact
Sheet - 1 page summary about the final rule (December 2000)
Support Documents
Proposed Rule 
- Proposed
Rule published in the Federal Register (February 3, 1999)
- Correction
published in the Federal Register (March 3, 1999)
- Fact
Sheet - 1 page summary about the proposed rule (February 1999)
Support Documents
Other resources
Biennial plan
and schedule to consider developing and revising effluent guidelines
Effluent Guidelines
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