EPA Proposes Major Rollback of Oil and Gas Methane Rules

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a substantial reduction in regulations governing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The plan targets rules finalized in 2023 that sought to limit gas leaks at drilling sites across the country. The proposal was announced on Tuesday while President Trump campaigned in Lubbock, Texas. He stated that the revision, made under the Clean Air Act, would save the industry billions of dollars in production costs. He also claimed the move would encourage more domestic drilling.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Estimates suggest it warms the planet eighty times more than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period. The 2023 regulations aimed to rein in emissions from the oil and gas sector. The new proposal seeks to reverse parts of that framework. It would alter how the government monitors and penalizes leaks from energy facilities.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the change in a press release. He described the previous administration's rules as destructive to the industry. "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, welcomed the proposal. Dustin Meyer, the group's vice president, said in a statement that the rollback addresses challenges companies faced in complying with the 2023 rules. "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 changes could cost the industry more money in the long run. Jon Goldstein, associate vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund, noted that methane is a primary component of natural gas. He explained that capturing gas prevents it from leaking or being flared. This allows companies to sell more product, which offsets regulatory costs. Goldstein added that losing these controls hurts energy security and reduces royalty and tax revenue for taxpayers.

One key element of the proposed rollback is the removal of the Methane Super Emitter Program. This program is scheduled to begin in January 2027. It would allow the government to hire certified third parties, such as private or nonprofit satellite programs, to monitor for large leaks. Methane is invisible and expensive to detect. Paasha Mahdavi, a political science professor at UC Santa Barbara, explained that third-party reports help the government identify violations. He said the government needs these external reports to know when to prosecute facilities for breaking the law.

Mahdavi warned that eliminating the program will make it harder for the government to spot large leaks. He emphasized that methane is difficult to see with the naked eye. The proposal also loosens regulations on low-volume, marginal oil wells. These wells are considered marginally economic because they generate little profit. Goldstein challenged the assumption that small wells produce small emissions. He cited satellite data showing that end-of-life wells are responsible for a large share of methane pollution from the production sector.

The EPA plans to publish the proposed rule changes in the Federal Register. Once published, the agency will hold a public comment period of at least forty-five days. The agency will also host a public hearing during this time. The process allows stakeholders to review the specific text of the regulations before they are finalized.