Calling them “achievable air pollution standards for the oil and gas industry,” the U.S. EPA issued requirements aimed at cutting harmful emissions by drillers and well operators by 95 percent.

The new rules will phase in, with the final step coming in 2015.  And, federal regulators say half of the fracking operations in the country already have equipment needed to meet the upgraded standards.

In Ohio, the state EPA has broad home rule over pollution from gas and oil drilling.  Agency spokesman Mike Settles: “Ohio EPA will look at the new federal standards to see how they compare with standards that are already in place here. We’re going to need some time to study it; and where necessary, or desired, we will incorporate those federal standards into our own permitting process.”

U.S. EPA says one new requirement--that drillers capture and sell escaping methane and other gases that often got away during drilling and construction--should create enough revenue for operators to offset their costs of implementing the rest of new standards   I’m Tim Rudell, 89-7, WKSU.