San Diego and Mojave Desert air districts will not regulate oil and gas emissions

US environmental regulators have approved decisions by two California air districts not to regulate emissions from the oil and natural gas industry. This means these districts will not require new pollution controls for oil and gas operations in their areas.

Local air quality districts have the power to decide if certain industries need to follow specific pollution control guidelines. In this case, two districts decided that the oil and gas industry in their areas does not produce enough of certain pollutants to warrant new regulations. This decision means that existing oil and gas operations in San Diego County and the Mojave Desert will not face new costs for emissions controls.