Regulations and Plans Under Development

The DNREC Division of Air Quality is committed to openness and transparency as it updates and amends state Air Quality Regulations and related state implementation plans. This page provides information on items under development.

Learn more about the DNREC regulatory development process and find useful tools to participate.

Regulations

Recent Public Notices

Public Hearings

Draft Regulation and State Plan Providing Performance Standards for the Oil and Natural Gas Sector

The Division of Air Quality is developing a proposed new regulation and state plan to establish emission guidelines for existing oil and natural gas sources in Delaware. The proposal is being prepared under section 111(d) of the Federal Clean Air Act.

On March 8, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources in the Oil and Natural Gas Sector, as published in the Federal Register (89 FR 16820). Subsequently, the EPA amended this rule through additional actions published at 90 FR 55671 (December 3, 2025), and 91 FR 18112 (April 9, 2026).

The proposed new regulation, Performance Standards for Oil and Natural Gas Sector (7 DE Admin. Code 1152), would incorporate the EPA rule by reference. The State Plan is being developed under 111(d) Emissions Guidelines for existing oil and natural gas sources in Delaware to align with federal regulations.

This regulation and State Plan will reduce methane and other harmful emissions from the Delaware City and Bridgeville compressor stations. The owner of both compressor stations is Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company. Methane is both the main component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas.

This regulatory development process started with DNREC Start Action Notice 2024-08.

For more information, please contact Div. of Air Quality Engineer Yagna Shah at Yagna.Shah@delaware.gov or 302-324-2050.

Stakeholder Meetings

On Feb. 3, 2026, the Division of Air Quality held a key stakeholder meeting, via TEAMS, with Delaware’s stakeholder, Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company, to discuss Delaware’s approach to establishing the proposed draft regulation.