Reducing Methane (CH4) Emissions from Natural Gas Distribution Mains & Services (310 CMR 7.73)

MassDEP has imposed annually-declining methane (CH4) emission limits on Massachusetts gas operators in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 under the Global Warming Solutions Act.

News & Updates

March 2021

MassDEP finalized the regulation 310 CMR 7.73: Reducing Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Distribution Mains & Services to:

• Establish gas operator annual declining emission limits for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 (with corrections to Tables 1, 7 and 8);
• Streamline the petition process by which gas operators may petition for reserve cap; and
• Require gas operators to categorize their pipeline mileage by age and material type in their annual reports to MassDEP.

Regulatory Requirements

310 CMR 7.73, promulgated in March 2021, requires each gas operator with a Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP) order from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to annually report emissions from the total miles of mains and service pipelines by material type, and to report the total miles of mains and service pipelines by material type and age. GSEPs detail schedules for replacement of older leak-prone distribution system pipes for each gas operator.

Additional Resources

310 CMR 7.00: Air Pollution Control (see 7.73 for final regulation)

310 CMR 7.73: Regulation (Showing Changes & Corrections), March 2021

310 CMR 7.73: Technical Support Document (TSD)

310 CMR 7.73: MassDEP Response to Comments (RTC)

310 CR 7.73: RTC Appendices

310 CMR 7.73: TSD Appendices

Annual Reporting

Gas operators are required to submit to MassDEP the form and spreadsheet below by April 15 of each year for the previous calendar year. 

Completed documents (or requests for these materials in alternate formats) should be emailed to Sue Ann Richardson.

Additional Resources

310 CMR 7.73: Annual Reporting Form

310 CMR 7.73: Annual Reporting Spreadsheet