EPA Issues Proposed Rule to Reduce Methane Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Operations

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency issued proposed rules to reduce methane gas emissions from U.S. oil and natural gas operations. The proposed rules address monitoring and reducing methane gas emissions from new and existing oil and natural gas operations.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas – with nearly 80 times more heat-trapping potential in 20 years as carbon dioxide – and is the world’s second largest contributor to climate change.

“This is big,” said ATS Environmental Health Policy Committee Chair Jack Harkema PhD. “The U.S. can never really address climate change until it gets a handle on methane emissions from the oil and natural gas industry. The ATS will push EPA to move quickly and aggressively to reduce methane gas emissions.”

For existing oil and natural gas operations, the proposed rule directs states to develop methane monitoring and remediation regulations that meet federal standards. All new oil and natural gas operations would fall directly under new federal regulations. When fully implemented, EPA estimates the rule would reduce 41 million tons of methane gas by 2035.

The proposed rules do not cover abandoned oil and natural gas wells – a major source of U.S. methane emissions. The Biden Administration announced its intent to issue proposed rules in 2022 to address abandoned wells.