By Ramona Cornell du Houx
December 3, 2023
On December 2, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule that will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry, including from hundreds of thousands of existing sources nationwide, use cutting-edge methane detection technologies, and deliver significant economic and public health benefits.
Methane emissions are over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term.
“Sharp cuts in methane emissions are among the most critical actions we can take in the short term to slow the rate of the climate crisis. Over 1,100 elected officials have signed on our Elected Officials to Protect America National Climate Emergency Letter, which plan includes methane reductions. EOPA is grateful for the EPA’s strong methane emissions rule,” said Alex Cornell du Houx, former Maine State Representative, Marine combat veteran, President of the Elected Officials to Protect America, and Co-Founder. “The EPA’s final rule will sharply reduce methane emissions by ending the wasteful routine flaring of gas from oil wells, and promoting the use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies. In addition to the Methane Emissions Reduction Program in the Inflation Reduction Act, this strong rule will help slow the climate crisis as we work towards a clean energy economy for a healthy, thriving planet for future generations.”
EPA’s final rule is projected to prevent an estimated 58 million tons of methane emissions from 2024 to 2038. In 2030 alone, the expected reductions are equivalent to 130 million metric tons of carbon dioxide – more than the annual emissions from 28 million gasoline cars.
“The EPA final rule announcement made at Dubai shows America’s commitment to combating the climate crisis and is an example for other nations to follow. Elected Officials to Protect America applauds the EPA for this final strong rule.” said Christian C. Brock, Elected Officials to Protect America Chief Executive Officer, Air Force (retired). “Oil and natural gas operations are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, which is responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gasses occurring today. Dangerous methane pollution puts our families at risk of conditions like asthma, cancer, heart attacks and premature death, especially in environmental justice communities. The EPA final rule will help give our children back their future as we work towards energy independence from fossil fuels.”
Oil and natural gas operations are significant sources of other health-harming air pollutants, including smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can increase asthma attacks and other respiratory problems, as well as toxic air pollutants such as benzene that can increase cancer risk.
“For decades our environmental justice communities have been subjected to the worst pollution New Mexico produces without having any real say in the issue. Researchers at Stanford University estimate that oil and gas operations in our Permian Basin release 194 metric tons per hour of methane. These methane pollutants directly impact the cognitive abilities of our children and their health, leading to lifelong lung issues, or worse cancer,” said Debbie Sariñana, New Mexico State Representative Air Force Veteran, EOPA National Leadership Council Chair, former school teacher. “The final EPA rule will critically reduce these pollutants, allowing our children to breathe clean air and grow up healthier. Additionally, the EPA’s final rule will empower our environmental justice communities with resident-led monitoring projects, giving them a long overdue voice. Elected Officials to Protect America applauds the EPA’s final ruling.”
EPA’s rule will protect public health by avoiding 16 million tons of volatile organic compounds from 2024 to 2038, along with 590,000 tons of toxic air pollutants like benzene and toluene.
“As a major democratic polluter, it is incumbent on America to lead efforts on the climate crisis. As the world gathers at COP28 to collectively work to reduce fossil fuels to help tackle the climate crisis, the U.S. now has established our most protective methane pollution limits. As other countries must also reduce methane, America has shown a path forward,” said Paul Evans, Oregon State Representative, Air Force veteran, Elected Officials to Protect America National Leadership Council Co-Chair. “EPA’s tremendous leadership with these strong clean air standards should give the world hope that we can act in time to meet the UN’s climate crisis goal before extreme weather becomes the planetary norm leading to food shortages, migration and worsening conflicts over scarcity.”