The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday reimbursed standards for methane emissions in the oil and gas industry and predicted similar actions for other pollutants.
The two finalized rules unlock standards that specifically regulate methane emissions from oil and gas production, processing, transmission and storage.
The agency’s rules also set the stage for rollbacks to other polluters, arguing that the EPA under former President Obama did not adequately define what constitutes a “significant” contribution to climate change under the Clean Air Act.
The EPA intends to set out another rule with a definition of “significant”, with the methane rule stating that it could apply its new criteria in future decisions.
The agency generally argued that the standards it set were unnecessary to overlap substantially with other regulations regarding volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
In specifically regulating methane from this sector in 2016, the Obama administration determined that although standards for VOCs would also reduce “incidental” methane emissions, a methane-specific standard would “find meaning” [greenhouse gas] GHG reduction and will be an important step in measuring the impact of GHG emissions on climate change. “
The EPA estimates that the two new rules would have combined the proposed net benefits of $ 750 million to $ 850 million dollars from 2021 to 2030.
Over the same period, the rules would increase methane emissions by 400,000 tons and 450,000 tons each, according to the agency.
Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in equal amounts, according to the EPA.
The greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere during the production, transport and storage of oil and gas. Natural gas and petroleum systems are the second largest source of methane emissions in the country, behind agriculture alone.
The administration viewed the changes as a move to reduce regulatory burdens on the industry, particularly small producers, while critics argued that they would increase climate change.
Even before it was officially announced, the changes had already been unlocked by opponents of Congress.
“This is a serious national security concern and it is a serious concern for the future of this country. I just hope that these people will look at their grandchildren and explain to them why they took this step, ”he said.
The new rule also makes changes to other regulations.
Notably, it would reduce the frequency of oversight for a type of emission, known as ‘volatile emissions’ for compressor stations that help to transport and transport natural gas from quarter to twice a year.
It would also release wells that produce the equivalent of 15 tons of oil a day or less from monitoring volatile emissions.
Some sector actors cheered the order, while environmentalists and Democrats were extremely critical.
“We support this revision because it is consistent with the requirements of the Clean Air Act,” said a statement from Frank Macchiarola, former Vice President of the American Petroleum Institute for Policy, Economy and Regulatory Affairs. “Under these amended rules, operators will still be required to control emissions, and the sector will continue to make progress in reducing methane emissions through new technologies.”
Some environmental groups, such as Earthjustice and the Fund for Environmental Defense, promise to follow up on the newly issued regulations.
“We need strong methane standards to keep our air clean and breathable, and to combat the climate crisis,” said a statement from Earthitice attorney Caitlin Miller. “EPA must prioritize our health and safety over the profits of oil and gas companies, and we will hold them accountable to the court.”
King suggested that Congress could try to overturn the rule through the Congressional Review Act, which gives the legislature the ability to block government agencies.
“I will be surprised if all my Republican colleagues want to go on record as voting for methane emissions,” he said.
Updated: 5:37 p.m.
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