This week, the ATS joined several other medical and public health groups in regulatory comments to the Administration opposing any delay in implementing EPA rules to reduce methane and other fugitive gas emissions from new or modified oil and natural gas extraction and processing facilities.  

During the Obama Administration, the EPA finalized rules to require oil and natural gas companies to take steps to reduce methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) and other fugitive gas emissions from any new or modified extraction and processing operations.  While the rule was intended to address greenhouse gas emissions, it also has significant co-benefits, such as pollution reductions in both ozone and particulate matter pre-cursor emissions.  Under the Trump Administration, the EPA has proposed changes to the final rule that will significantly relax the emissions requirements and extend the implementation time frame for industry to meet emissions reductions.

The letter sent by ATS and other medical and public health organizations summarizes the known adverse health effects caused by methane and other fugitive gas emissions from oil and natural gas extraction and processing facilities and further notes the impact these emissions have on accelerating climate change.