EPA announces first fracking air pollution rules.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement Wednesday that it would require oil and natural gas companies to capture emissions from wells, storage sites and pipelines under new air quality standards received heavy coverage in the major print newspapers, as well as the wires. Many of the stories focused on delayed implementation of the rules until 2015, giving drillers time to access and pay for necessary equipment.

        The New York Times (4/19, A20, Broder, Subscription Publication) points out that "the rule is the first federal effort to address serious air pollution associated with the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking," and follows "complaints from citizens and environmental groups that gases escaping from the 13,000 wells drilled each year by fracking were causing health problems and widespread air pollution." However, "industry groups said meeting the proposed standards would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and slow the boom in domestic natural gas production."

        According to the Washington Post (4/19, Eilperin, Mufson), the delay in the requirements "represents a victory for firms that use hydraulic fracturing." The Post points out that "the American Petroleum Institute, which has been harshly critical of the Obama administration's policies, said EPA's final rules made 'constructive changes' from rules the agency proposed earlier." Also covering the story are USA Today (4/19, Vergano), the Wall Street Journal (4/19, A3, Tracy, Subscription Publication), and the Los Angeles Times (4/19, Banerjee).