EPA Seeks Rollback of Methane Limits

The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday that the Trump administration intends to drastically reduce regulations governing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The move targets a rule finalized in 2023 during the Biden administration that aimed to cut leaks from drilling sites across the United States.

President Trump made the announcement while campaigning in Lubbock, Texas. He stated that the revision, conducted under the Clean Air Act, would save the industry billions of dollars in production costs and encourage more domestic drilling. This proposal arrives as Republican candidates face voter criticism over high gas prices in the lead-up to midterm elections.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Estimates indicate it warms the planet 80 times more than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the change in a press release. "Behind every barrel of oil and every cubic foot of natural gas produced in the U.S. are millions of workers, businesses, and the heartbeat of this nation's economy. The Biden EPA destructively targeted all this," Zeldin said.

The American Petroleum Institute, a trade group for the U.S. oil and gas industry, supported the proposal. The industry had vigorously opposed the 2023 rules. Dustin Meyer, vice president of the American Petroleum Institute, said the rollback addresses challenges companies faced in complying with the previous regulations. "We look forward to working with the Trump administration on a more workable approach that supports American energy production, provides greater regulatory certainty and advances continued emissions reductions," Meyer said.

Environmental groups argue the new rules could increase costs for the industry. Jon Goldstein, associate vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund, noted that methane is natural gas. If facilities capture more gas instead of allowing it to leak or flare, they gain a product they can sell. "And so that offsets a lot of the costs," Goldstein said. He added that leaked gas harms energy security and deprives taxpayers of royalty and tax revenue.

One key change involves the Methane Super Emitter Program. This program, scheduled to take effect in January 2027, allows the government to hire certified third parties, including private and nonprofit satellite groups, to monitor large leaks. Paasha Mahdavi, a political science professor at UC Santa Barbara, explained that these groups help identify invisible and expensive-to-detect leaks. "[The government] needs help from other people to say, 'Hey! You're breaking the law!' so they're able to prosecute," Mahdavi said.

The proposal also loosens standards for low-volume marginal oil wells. These wells are considered marginally economic because they generate little profit. Goldstein said satellites show these end-of-life wells produce a large share of methane pollution from the production sector. The EPA plans to open a public comment period of at least 45 days, including a public hearing, once the rule changes appear in the Federal Register.