EPA Proposal: Trump Administration Moves to Slash Methane Rules

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to weaken rules designed to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. The move targets regulations finalized in 2023 under the Biden administration. These rules aimed to cut leaks from drilling sites across the United States.

Methane acts as a potent greenhouse gas. Scientists estimate it is 80 times more effective at warming the planet than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period. The new proposal would alter how the EPA oversees these emissions under the Clean Air Act.

President Trump announced the plan while campaigning in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday. He stated that the revision would save the industry billions of dollars in production costs. He also claimed the changes would encourage more domestic drilling. The timing coincides with rising gas prices that have drawn criticism from Republican voters ahead of midterm elections.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the rollback in a press release. He described the previous administration's approach as destructive to the economy. Zeldin noted that every barrel of oil and cubic foot of natural gas supports millions of workers and businesses. He characterized the 2023 rules as a target on these vital economic components.

Dustin Meyer, vice president at the American Petroleum Institute, welcomed the proposed changes. The trade group had vigorously opposed the 2023 regulations. Meyer said the new approach would provide greater regulatory certainty. He expressed a desire to work with the Trump administration to support American energy production while advancing emissions reductions.

Jon Goldstein, associate vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund, argued the rollback could increase costs. He pointed out that methane is the primary component of natural gas. Capturing the gas prevents leaks and flaring, allowing companies to sell more product. This additional revenue, he said, offsets much of the compliance expense.

Goldstein also linked the proposal to energy security. He stated that losing royalty and tax revenue from wasted gas harms taxpayers. He argued that the current regulations help ensure this revenue is collected rather than lost to the atmosphere.

The proposal would eliminate the Methane Super Emitter Program. This rule, scheduled to take effect in January 2027, allows the government to use data from certified third parties to detect large leaks. Paasha Mahdavi, a political science professor at UC Santa Barbara, explained that these leaks are invisible and difficult to find. The program would let officials use satellite data from private and nonprofit groups to identify violations.

Mahdavi said the government needs external help to identify facilities breaking the law. Without the program, it will be harder to spot large leaks from pipelines, refineries, and other energy facilities. He emphasized the difficulty of detecting the gas without these technological aids.

The EPA would also loosen rules for low-volume marginal wells. These are wells that generate little profit. Goldstein challenged the assumption that these wells produce small amounts of emissions. He cited satellite data showing that end-of-life wells are responsible for the majority of methane pollution in the sector. The agency plans a 45-day public comment period and a public hearing after the rule changes are published in the Federal Register.