Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org, 914-261-4626
Washington, DC -- Today, the Trump administration is expected to finalize two rules that eliminate common sense Clean Air Act safeguards against methane and other harmful pollution from the oil and gas industry. These protections were implemented under the Obama administration and have been in place for four years. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is 87 times more powerful than carbon dioxide during the time it remains in the atmosphere.
Not only are the Trump EPA’s rollbacks expected to weaken requirements for oil and gas companies to monitor and repair leaking equipment, they will also strip away methane limits for this industry altogether. They are also expected to leave gas transmission and storage equipment entirely uncontrolled under a key Clean Air Act program.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“The Trump administration is again admitting that they don’t care if our families breathe dirtier air or suffer from devastating climate impacts as long as their corporate polluter friends see a bump in profits. The only people who will benefit from gutting these commonsense protections are the oil and gas executives seeking a free pass to release even more harmful air pollution while the public pays the price. We will pursue all legal avenues to fight back against this blatant attack on our environment and public health.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.