"EPA Plans ‘Even More Ambitious’ Methane Rule"

"GLASGOW, Scotland — A top EPA official said today that the agency early next year will strengthen its proposal for regulating emissions of methane from oil and gas infrastructure.

Speaking at a roundtable here hosted by environmental groups focused on methane, EPA acting air chief Joe Goffman said the agency will issue a "supplemental proposal" for the potent greenhouse gas that would “extend the already ambitious proposal last week into an even more ambitious one.”

EPA released its twin methane proposals for new and existing oil and gas infrastructure last week at the Conference of the Parties, or COP 26, during a methane-themed day. But the drafts included numerous requests for more information on key issues, like how small oil and gas operations would be regulated and whether producers would be allowed to use routine flaring to burn off gas produced during oil drilling.

The objective, said Goffman, is to ensure a final rule that captures more methane from a broader set of sources."

Jean Chemnick reports for E&E News November 11, 2021.

Source: E&E News, 11/12/2021