Environmental policy and the natural gas exploration and production industry

Although little new environmental legislation in the US has had a direct impact on the natural gas industry, a number of regulatory initiatives under existing statutes have or could have a significant effect particularly on the cost of exporting for and producing domestic natural gas. The major theme in these regulations is to require well drillers and operators to reduce further the pollutants associated with oil and gas exploration and production. This article examines the potential impact of the major regulatory initiatives on exploration and production in the domestic natural gas industry, both individually and collectively, and comments on anticipated energing trends in regulations affecting the industry.