March 28, 2007—The oil and gas exploration and refining industry has become the 13th industry to join the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) voluntary Sector Strategies Program, which fosters collaboration among business, government, and non-government organizations. Through this program, EPA works with the diverse parties to improve the environmental impact of the major manufacturing and service sectors of the US economy.
EPA’s primary contacts in the industry will be the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Domestic Petroleum Council (DPC), and the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). Collectively, these organizations represent the full spectrum of oil and gas operations—from exploration and production to refining and distribution, says EPA.
According to EPA figures, the US is the world’s third-largest petroleum producer, with more than 500,000 producing wells and approximately 4,000 oil and natural gas platforms operating in US waters. The nation’s 144 refineries process more than 17 million barrels of crude oil every day. Together, oil and gas supply 65 percent of US energy, notes EPA.
The 12 other sectors that participate in the voluntary program include: agribusiness; cement manufacturing; specialty-batch chemical manufacturing; colleges and universities; construction; forest products; iron and steel manufacturing; metal casting; metal finishing; paint and coatings; ports; and shipbuilding and ship repair. The sectors represent more than 780,000 facilities.
For more information visit EPA’s Oil and Gas Sector Strategies Program or the general Sector Strategies Program Web page.
