The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to announce that it intends to sharply Curtail Rules on Methane Emissions, a Major Contributor to Climate Change.
Under the Proposal, Methane, the Main Component of Natural Gas, would only be Indirectly Regulated. A Separate but related Category of Gases covered under the Obama-era Rules, known as Volatile Organic Compounds, would still be Subject to Regulation under the New Rules. Those Curbs would also have the Side Benefit of Averting some Methane Emissions.
The New Rule must go through a Period of Public Comment and Review, and would most likely be Finalized early next year.
Major Oil and Gas Companies have Opposed the proposed Rollback, which would Eliminate Federal Requirements to Limit Methane Leaks from Wells, Pipelines, and Storage Facilities.
Carbon Dioxide is the Most Significant Greenhouse Gas, but Methane is a Close Second. It makes up nearly 10% of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, a significant Portion of which comes from the Oil and Gas Sector. It lingers in the Atmosphere for a Shorter Period of Time but packs a Bigger Punch while it lasts. By some Estimates, methane has 80 times the Heating-Trapping Power of Carbon Dioxide in the first 20 years in the Atmosphere.
The Growing Intensity of Wildfires and their spread to Regions that have rarely Burned have raised Fears that Climate Change is Exacerbating the Dangers.
The Methane Regulation has been in the Administration’s Cross Hairs since Trump’s earliest days in office.
In March 2017, Scott Pruitt, then the EPA Administrator, tried to Suspend the Regulation while the Agency considered an Alternative, but a Federal Appeals Court Ruled the move Unlawful.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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