ExxonMobil/XTO endorses rules to cut oil & gas methane pollution

“Earthworks welcomes XTO’s call for methane regulations.

As a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil, the largest oil company in the world, we hope XTO goes beyond just words and advocates for common-sense methane standards at every level of government.

Fortunately for community health and the climate there are two ways ExxonMobil can immediately and concretely demonstrate it means what it says.

First, there are existing methane safeguards that need their support. Under assault by the Trump Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department rules to cut oil and gas methane pollution are actually less ambitious than what XTO now supports.

Second, through our Community Empowerment Project, Earthworks has identified XTO operations that are in urgent need of ExxonMobil’s concrete commitment to methane Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR). At XTO sites like this, our certified thermographers have identified methane and associated pollutants with an infrared optical gas imaging camera.

Seeing is believing. We look forward to working with XTO to help them take these immediate steps and to make their promises a reality. Ultimately that will only be possible by joining with communities, public health advocates, labor organizations and the environmental community in advocating for robust federal methane standards.”