EPA Finalizes New Methane Rule to Cut Harmful Pollution from Oil and Gas Operations

Washington, DC -  Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final, critical Clean Air Act protections against methane and other harmful pollution from the oil and gas industry, a major win for climate and public health. These safeguards—which include the first-ever standards for existing equipment while also strengthening standards for new equipment—have been a major priority for Sierra Club and its allies, and are the culmination of years of advocacy by and on behalf of our members, families, and communities. 

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has more than 80 times the power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, driving approximately one-third of the warming our planet has experienced to date. Each year, the U.S. oil and gas sector emits 16 million metric tons of methane into our atmosphere. Additionally, methane is emitted from oil and gas sources alongside other damaging pollutants, such as smog- and soot-forming volatile organic compounds and air toxins like benzene and formaldehyde, human carcinogens.  

According to EPA’s analysis, the final standards are projected to avoid 58 million tons of methane through 2038, as well as 16 million tons of volatile organic compounds and 590,000 tons of air toxins. These reductions will be achieved through requirements such as strengthened leak detection and repair requirements for all wells up until they are permanently plugged-in, regardless of size or operation status; the installation of non-polluting pneumatic equipment; a phased-in prohibition on routine flaring of gas at new wells; and a program to leverage third-party monitoring data to identify and stop particularly large emission events. 

During a robust comment period at the start of this year, the broad coalition of supporters of the methane rule submitted over 400,000 comments – more than 16,000 of which came from Sierra Club members and volunteers – urging EPA to finalize and implement the strongest possible protections for health and welfare. Now, Sierra Club and coalition partners will work to defend the rule against attacks from fossil fuel interests and their political allies, as well as to ensure the final standards are properly implemented and enforced to protect communities from the impacts of oil and gas pollution. 

In reaction to the announcement of the final rule, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous said: 

“President Biden and EPA Administrator Regan have demonstrated clear leadership in shepherding this updated methane rule through to its final iteration. The standards are commonsense, achievable safeguards that set a necessary benchmark if oil and gas companies expect to keep operating in our communities. The finalization of the methane rule is cause for celebration, but the work does not stop here and should not be a cover for expanded oil and gas extraction. We will remain vigilant to ensure proper implementation and enforcement of the rule to maximize emissions reductions to protect our climate, public health, and the safety of communities that neighbor oil and gas operations. Corporate lobbyists and industry-backed politicians should expect a fight against any effort to weaken or undo these important standards.”