EPA to Loosen Methane Rules, Boosting Pollution From Oil and Gas Wells

EPA to loosen methane rules, boosting pollution from oil and gas wells

This story was originally published by ProPublica. by Alex Cuadros, ProPublica The Trump administration is poised to loosen environmental restrictions on oil and gas wells that produce very little energy but release vast amounts of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas. The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to drastically weaken requirements for leak inspections and […]

EPA To Loosen Restrictions On Methane Pollution

ProPublica reports: The Trump administration is poised to loosen environmental restrictions on oil and gas wells that produce very little energy but release vast amounts of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas. The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to drastically weaken requirements for leak inspections and equipment upgrades at more than 700,000 low-producing “stripper wells,” … The post EPA To Loosen Restrictions On Methane Pollu…

A former oil lobbyist now runs EPA's air office, and his first major rule saves the industry $42 billion on methane leaks

The Direct Message Tension: Stripper wells produce 6% of U.S. oil and gas output but roughly half the sector’s methane pollution, and the EPA is proposing to let their operators stop fixing the leaks. Noise: The rollback is framed as energy dominance and regulatory relief, but the EPA’s own draft rule shows the existing rules would cost only 0.4% of national production while cutting industry methane by 80%. Direct Message: This is not broad dere…