Background: On Tuesday, October 27, at a rally in Lubbock, Texas, President Trump announced he was “terminating Biden’s methane regulations.” On Wednesday October 7, Administrator Lee Zeldin had previously previewed the rollback at a closed-door industry event in New Mexico.
The proposed rollback would eliminate the Super Emitter Program, weaken leak detection and repair requirements for a significant number of wells, and allow more routine flaring of gas. In addition to the rollback of these common-sense protections, the Trump administration also opens the door to eliminate methane pollution protections outright.
Weakening clean air protections exacerbates harms from dangerous air pollution for communities living closest to oil and gas production and derails a major initiative to cut U.S. climate pollution.
Methane is 80 times more powerful at warming the climate in the short term than carbon dioxide. It has been found to leak and pollute at every step of the oil and gas supply chain. It is often released alongside health-hazardous co-pollutants. However, 30-40% of the cost of fixing methane gas leaks has zero net cost and would reduce the pace of atmospheric warming in our lifetime.
Statement from Earthworks Policy Director Lauren Pagel:
“President Trump’s gift to oil and gas billionaires is a disaster for families across the country. More methane pollution means more extreme weather and a harder, more expensive life for everyone.
“This administration frankly doesn’t care about everyday people. Axing methane rules sacrifices communities living next to extraction. It puts polluters far before the health and welfare of everyday people. This is the latest example of the Trump administration’s Polluters First Agenda that puts billionaire profits over the health and wellbeing of everyday Americans.
“While families struggle with the high cost of living, the Trump administration gives all of us dirtier air, more pollution, and worse quality of life in too many communities all so that friends in Big Oil profit.
“Enough of this. It’s time for states to step up and do what the White House won’t: ‘put people first, hold polluters accountable, and cut methane pollution to protect health and climate.”
For more information:
