(WO) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has clarified federal regulations to allow limited routine flaring of associated gas at new oil wells under certain conditions beyond the 2026 phaseout deadline. 

The update applies to oil and natural gas wells that began construction after May 7, 2024, and provides operators with additional flexibility in managing associated gas where takeaway or infrastructure constraints exist.

Industry groups said the clarification offers needed guidance on how the rule will be implemented. “This announcement provides important regulatory clarity for independent producers,” said Dan Naatz, executive vice president and chief policy officer at Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). He added that the measure helps ensure producers can continue to operate within the agency’s regulatory framework.

The policy comes as operators continue to expand infrastructure and reduce flaring intensity across major U.S. producing regions, including the Permian basin, where takeaway capacity has played a key role in limiting emissions.

The rule is part of broader federal efforts to regulate methane emissions and associated gas handling in upstream oil and gas operations.

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