Statement of Earthworks Executive Director Jennifer Krill
Earthworks is heartened that the Obama administration is looking to prevent future Aliso Canyons. Hundreds of similar underground natural gas storage facilities across the country are at risk for similar disasters for community and climate.
There should be zero tolerance for methane leaks. Now that some regulators are finally looking at these facilities, that could mean shutting down many of them. Just a week ago the California Public Utilities Commission released its first ever survey of these sites revealing 229 leaks.
With the formation of this task force, and EPA’s movement to regulate oil and gas methane pollution at new and existing operations, it’s clear the Obama administration is very concerned by the dangers posed by methane pollution. We hope that concern will be followed by appropriate action. We have to face facts. And the fact is that natural gas is a dirty fuel.
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