5900-105 Program Partnership Agreement

OMB Control No. 2060-0328

Expires XX/XX/20XX

Natural Gas STAR Program Partnership Agreement

The Natural Gas STAR Program is a flexible, voluntary partnership between EPA and the oil and natural gas industry aimed at demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits of methane emission reduction opportunities.

This is a voluntary agreement between (company name) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the purpose of reducing methane releases to the atmosphere by implementing cost-effective emission reduction technologies and practices. Responsibilities for both parties and General Terms are outlined on the following page.

Please select which sector segment(s) this partnership will cover (check all that apply):

☐ Production ☐ Gathering and Processing ☐ Transmission ☐ Distribution

Authorized Partner Company Representative:

Name and Title: ______________________________________________________

Signature: Date:  

EPA Representative:

Paul M. Gunning, Director, Climate Change Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Signature: Date:  

Partner Designated Natural Gas STAR Implementation Manager:

Name:

Title:

This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2060-0328). Responses to this collection of information are voluntary 42 USC 7403(g). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to 10 hours per response. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden to the Regulatory Support Division Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.

E-mail:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Telephone:

EPA’s Responsibilities

1. Provide contact information for an EPA Program Manager to assist the Partner in Program implementation.

2. Assist Partners with Program implementation with the following, as appropriate:

   1. Analyzing and developing information on emerging technologies and practices;

   2. Developing workshops and training courses; and

   3. Providing technical assistance to Partners in implementing the Program Best Management Practices (BMPs) found at www.epa.gov/natural-gas-star-program

3. Provide public recognition for Partner company commitments to the Program through acknowledgement on EPA’s web site.

4. EPA will only release information obtained from the Partner company without prior authorization from that company if required to do so under the Freedom of Information Act, the Agency’s regulations at 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, or other applicable law.

Natural Gas STAR Partner’s Responsibilities

1. Appoint a company representative as the Natural Gas STAR Program Implementation Manager responsible for implementing this voluntary agreement.

2. Annually evaluate cost-effective methane emission reduction opportunities and voluntarily implement BMPs to the extent feasible across operations within the United States.

3. Engage and share information with the Program on voluntary emission reduction activities annually, including one or more of the following activities:

   1. Providing EPA with annual reports describing the BMPs implemented;

   2. Presenting at a Natural Gas STAR workshop or other Program event; or

   3. Developing technical documents that can be shared with Partners, such as through the Natural Gas STAR website.

4. Communicate participation to employees and cooperate with EPA efforts to publicize the Program.

General Terms

1. This agreement can be terminated by either party at any time, with no penalties and no further obligation. EPA requests that Partners notify EPA immediately if they plan to withdraw from the Partnership. EPA agrees not to publicize a Partner’s withdrawal from the Program.

2. The Partner agrees that the activities it undertakes connected with this agreement are not intended to provide services to the federal government and that the Partner will not seek compensation from a federal agency.

3. The Partner agrees that it will not claim or imply that its participation in the Program constitutes EPA approval or endorsement of anything other than the commitment to the Program.

4. The Partner agrees to only share non-Confidential Business Information (CBI) to fulfill Gas STAR Program requirements, and understands that information submitted to the Program is subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Instructions

Please complete this form, including the Authorized Company Representative signature. Email the completed form to the Natural Gas STAR Challenge Program at: gasstar@epa.gov. EPA will countersign the agreement and email a copy back to the Implementation Manager.

A high-resolution version of the program logo will be sent to you along with your countersigned partnership agreement. Please visit the Natural Gas STAR website for guidelines on how partners may, and may not, use the Natural Gas STAR logo: https://www.epa.gov/natural-gas-star-program/logo-and-brand-guidelines

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