EPA methane proposal would increase air pollution, waste energy, and harm the climate
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposal to significantly weaken 2024 methane regulations for the oil and gas sector.
“EPA’s proposal defies its obligation under the Clean Air Act to protect public health and welfare and would have a devastating impact on the communities that live and work near oil and gas development as well as the public at large,” said Darin Schroeder, Methane Legal and Regulatory Director at Clean Air Task Force (CATF). “In addition to the loopholes that Administrator Zeldin proudly touted to industry [earlier this month], EPA’s proposal sets the stage for the complete deregulation of methane under the Clean Air Act even after a decade of widely supported standards and multiple congressional actions mandating that EPA regulate methane. If EPA abdicates its authority to regulate methane, this would remove obligations for states to address existing sources, meaning even more air pollution would be emitted and more energy would be wasted nationwide. EPA’s crusade against limits for emissions scientifically proven to harm public health and the environment must stop, and the agency must rescind this unlawful proposal and implement the 2024 rule without delay.”
Press Contact
Samantha Sadowski, Senior Communications Manager, U.S., ssadowski@catf.us, +1 202-440-1717
About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global climate organization working to advance the full range of solutions needed for a healthy climate and a thriving planet. Founded in 1996, CATF conducts research and analysis to identify promising solutions, then works across governments, industry, and partners in more than 40 countries to deliver them at scale. It takes no funding from governments or the industries it works to influence, so its analysis and advocacy follows the facts. Over 30 years, its work has helped shape major climate and energy policy around the world. CATF is consistently recognized as one of the most effective climate organizations in the world by independent evaluators including Giving Green and Founders Pledge. Learn more at cleanairtaskforce.org.
