Environmental Compliance Audit
A third-party EHS compliance audit finds the gaps before an EPA or RRC inspector does. We audit your facilities, records, and programs against current Texas and federal requirements.
What an Environmental Compliance Audit Actually Covers
An environmental compliance audit is a structured, documented review of your facility's adherence to applicable environmental laws, permit conditions, and internal EHS standards. For Texas oil and gas operators, that means a multi-agency framework: EPA regulations (including NSPS, RCRA, and Clean Water Act), TCEQ air and water permits, and RRC operational requirements.
An EHS compliance audit goes beyond a checklist. It produces a defensible written record: a finding, a risk ranking, and a corrective action plan that demonstrates good-faith compliance effort. That record matters enormously when regulators show up.
NSPS OOOOa / Quad O Compliance Audits
NSPS OOOOa (commonly called Quad O) is one of the most technically demanding federal requirements facing Texas upstream operators. It governs fugitive emissions from well completions, storage vessels, pneumatic controllers, and compressors. The rule requires periodic monitoring, component-level recordkeeping, and timely repairs, and the documentation burden is significant.
Tektite conducts dedicated Quad O compliance audits that walk through your affected facilities equipment-by-equipment. We verify that your monitoring frequencies are met, that your records of compliance are complete and in the right format, and that any required repairs have been documented and closed out within EPA timeframes. Non-compliant pneumatic devices and storage vessels are common findings; we identify them before they become violation notices.
Compliance Records Management
Regulators audit your paperwork as much as your facilities. Inadequate compliance record keeping (missing inspection logs, unsigned certifications, gaps in monitoring data) can turn a minor field issue into a significant violation.
As part of every environmental compliance audit, we review your records of compliance for completeness and defensibility. We identify what's missing, what's in the wrong format, and what retention schedules you may be violating. We can also help you build a forward-looking compliance records management system so that documentation stays current between audits.
What We Audit
- Air Compliance: Permit conditions, emission calculations, PBR/Standard Permit recordkeeping, and NSPS OOOOa / Quad O requirements.
- SPCC Plans: Plan currency, PE certification status, secondary containment integrity, and inspection logs.
- Waste Management: Hazardous and non-hazardous waste manifests, storage area compliance, and disposal records.
- Tier II Records: Chemical inventory accuracy and annual report submissions.
- Stormwater / SWPPP: Permit coverage, inspection logs, and BMP maintenance records.
- EHS Program Documentation: Safety data sheets, training records, emergency response plans, and incident logs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an environmental compliance audit?
An environmental compliance audit is a systematic, documented evaluation of a facility's compliance with environmental laws, permits, and internal EHS standards. It identifies violations or gaps before regulators discover them, and produces a corrective action plan to close those gaps.
How is a Quad O audit different from a general EHS audit?
A Quad O (NSPS OOOOa) audit is a focused review of your compliance with EPA's fugitive emissions standards for oil and gas equipment. It covers monitoring frequency, component-level records, repair timelines, and proper certification of affected facilities. It is typically conducted as a stand-alone audit or as a dedicated module within a broader EHS compliance audit.
How long does an environmental compliance audit take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the facility. A single-facility audit typically takes one to two days on-site plus a week for report preparation. Multi-facility programs are scoped individually.
What records should I have ready before an audit?
Ideally: all current permits and permit applications, SPCC plan with PE certification, air emission calculations, NSPS monitoring logs, waste manifests from the past three years, Tier II reports, and any prior inspection reports or NOVs. If records are incomplete, that's exactly what the audit will surface. Don't delay the audit because the records aren't perfect.
Audit Capabilities
- ✓ NSPS OOOOa / Quad O Audits
- ✓ EHS Compliance Audits
- ✓ Compliance Records Review
- ✓ Air Permit Compliance
- ✓ SPCC Plan Review
- ✓ Corrective Action Planning