Trump administration to roll back curbs on methane from oil, gas
operations
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[August 13, 2020]
By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump
administration on Thursday will roll back regulations aimed at reducing
emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane from oil and gas
operations, its latest move to unwind environmental rules ahead of
November's presidential election.
During a visit to election swing state Pennsylvania, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler will formally rescind
2016 Obama administration limits on oil and gas industry emissions of
methane, a move criticized by environmentalists when initially proposed
last August.
The EPA is expected to retain some of the rules issued in 2012 that
control methane emissions and also limit those of so-called volatile
organic compounds (VOC) that cause smog.
But it is also expected to remove sources of emissions, including the
transport and storage of oil and gas, from regulation as well as
requirements for companies to install equipment to detect methane leaks,
according to a source familiar with matter.
It would also prevent any future regulation of methane from facilities
built before 2015.
Congressman Guy Reschenthaler, a Republican representing a district at
the heart of Pennsylvania's fracking industry, welcomed EPA's decision
to "remove burdensome regulations" and "commitment to supporting
Pennsylvania gas and oil operators."
The American Petroleum Institute, a powerful fossil fuel lobby, has said
it supports the final rule even if some of its larger members like
Exxon, BP and Shell have called for mandatory methane regulations.
Smaller drillers say the rule is too costly for them to comply with.
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EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler testifies at a hearing titled
'Oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency' in the Dirksen
Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, U.S., May 20, 2020. Kevin
Dietsch/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
"We support this revision," API regulatory affairs director Frank
Macchiarola told Reuters. "But we understand that this rule has
drawn diverse viewpoints across our industry."
The API said existing VOC regulations have led to methane emissions
falling 60% from 2011-2018.
Environmental groups said the move comes as scientific reports
highlight the major role methane emissions play in worsening climate
change. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-methane/global-methane-emissions-rising-due-to-oil-and-gas-agriculture-studies-idUSKCN24F2X8
“Eliminating these safeguards would ignore the overwhelming body of
scientific evidence documenting the urgent need to reduce methane
pollution," said Peter Zalzal of the Environmental Defense Fund.
The rollbacks will be challenged in court, environmental groups and
some state attorneys general have said.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Tom Brown)
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