Statement on Congressional Demolition of Methane Polluter Fee (WEC)

Background: This week both chambers of Congress passed a joint resolution to eliminate a commonsense measure to cut methane pollution from oil and gas operations and hold polluters accountable for economic waste and health harm. The resolution repeals the EPA’s regulations to carry out the Waste Emissions Charge of the Methane Emissions Reduction program that aimed to keep methane and other pollutants out of the air. 

Oil and gas methane is leaked and intentionally emitted with a variety of associated gases, including carcinogens and other heath-harming toxics. Methane pollution has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after in the atmosphere and is responsible for more than a quarter of global warming. Cutting this pollution is the quickest, most cost-effective way to more immediately improve the air quality for workers and frontline-communities and to slow the rate of climate change in the near term, averting its worst impacts.

The House voted 220-206 to repeal EPA’s Implementing Rule for the Waste Emissions Charge, and the Senate voted 52-47 on the same resolution. 

Statement by Earthworks Policy Director Lauren Pagel:

“The House and Senate have just voted to let big polluters off the hook while sticking taxpayers with the cost of their waste and communities with the harms. Every member of Congress who supports Donald Trump’s dangerous demolition of critical nation-wide protections is undermining the health and clean air of communities across the United States.”