Across the country, companies are setting fire to methane gas produced at oil wells, and even in its revised form, the EPA's proposed methane rule would allow much of this flaring to continue. |
Friend,
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps about 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide in its first 20 years in the atmosphere.1
A new proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would curb some sources of methane pollution -- but loopholes could allow unmitigated releases of methane to continue, especially through the practice of routine flaring and venting of methane directly into the atmosphere.2
The EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed rule until Feb. 13. Will you stand with us in urging the agency to take stronger action to protect our communities and our planet from methane pollution?
Together, our action and advocacy have already helped drive progress toward strong nationwide standards for methane pollution -- but we can't let up now.
Last year, PIRG supporters sent thousands of messages urging the EPA to strengthen a previous, weaker draft of its methane rule. And it worked: The agency moved to close some of the loopholes that would have continued to allow oil and gas operations to leak large amounts of methane into the air.3
But across the country, companies are still setting fire to methane gas produced at oil wells at astonishing rates, and even in its revised form, the EPA's proposed methane rule would allow much of this flaring to continue.
Methane is responsible for about a third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today. It also poses threats to our health -- over half a million Americans live within three miles of a site of routine gas flaring, and there is a growing body of evidence linking this exposure to respiratory issues as well as effects on fetal growth and preterm birth.4
In November 2021, President Joe Biden signed onto the Global Methane Pledge to reduce world methane emissions 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.5 That's a great first step toward healthier air and a more stable climate -- but we risk falling short if we don't address methane flaring and other practices that vent this pollutant directly into the atmosphere.
Join us in calling on the EPA to strengthen its proposal to eliminate dangerous methane pollution.
Thank you,
Faye Park
President
1. "Statement: National environmental and public interest groups urge strong EPA methane standards," PennEnvironment, January 31, 2022.
2. "Statement: U.S. EPA proposes stronger action against methane pollution," PennEnvironment, November 11, 2022.
3. "Statement: National environmental and public interest groups urge strong EPA methane standards," PennEnvironment, January 31, 2022.
4. Leigh Hopper, "Health risk? More than 500,000 Americans live within 3 miles of natural gas flares," USC News, March 11, 2021.
5. "Statement: National environmental and public interest groups urge strong EPA methane standards," PennEnvironment, January 31, 2022.
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