Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Senate Rejects Repeal of Obama Drilling Rule


Three Republicans joined Senate Democrats today to Reject overturning an Obama Administration rule Limiting Methane Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Drilling.

Only 49 Senators Voted to move forward with Debate on Legislation to undo the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rule, short of the 51 needed to advance the Measure.

The Vote is a major Loss for Congressional Republicans, who had targeted the Methane Rule as a prime Obama Regulation to undo. They argue that it unnecessarily adds Costs to Oil and Natural Gas drilling on Federal land. But it is a big Victory for Environmentalists, who in recent weeks put up a comprehensive fight to sway vulnerable and moderate Senators against the Repeal.

Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Susan Collins (R-ME), and John McCain (R-AZ) joined all 48 Members of the Democratic Caucus in rejecting the Resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
Graham and Collins had previously publicized their plans to vote against the Legislation. But McCain’s vote came as a surprise.

Republicans went into a side room off of the Senate floor after the final Vote was submitted, and held the vote open, but no Senator changed his or her vote.

Vice President Pence also came to the Capitol in case his vote was needed to break a tie.

The Vote was the Senate GOP’s last chance to Overturn an Obama Rule through the CRA, which provides a streamlined method for Blocking Regulations, but sets a Time limit on when Congress can Vote.

The Methane Rule sets standards for what Oil and Natural Gas Drillers on Federal land must do to stop the Waste of Methane, the key component of Natural Gas, through venting or burning it at the well site. It is primarily designed to prevent the Waste of a valuable resource that belongs to Taxpayers. But since Methane is a Greenhouse Gas as much as 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, the Rule also has Climate Change benefits.

It was part of a wide-ranging Strategy by Obama to tackle Methane Emissions in the final years of his Presidency.

While the Congressional effort has failed, Trump’s Interior Department nonetheless could Repeal the Rule itself though an extensive Rulemaking process. A Trump Executive Order in March instructed Interior and other Agencies to roll back Obama’s Climate Agenda and other Regulations that impede the Production and use of Domestic Energy Resources.

Under that Order, Interior is considering whether to Repeal the BLM Methane Rule, but has not committed or proposed to do so yet.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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