Western Leaders Network, Appalachian Leaders Network Oppose Weakening EPA Methane Standards

EPA Administrator announced plans to roll back 2024 rule that cuts climate pollution, protects community health, and prevents natural gas waste

Today, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced agency plans to roll back a 2024 federal rule to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, despite the rule’s broad support across stakeholder groups and local, tribal and state elected officials.

The proposal, which EPA said will be unveiled within days, could weaken leak inspection and equipment upgrade requirements for low-producing wells and end a program to address the industry’s largest methane releases, known as super-emitter events. This announcement follows the agency’s move to delay implementation of many of the rule’s requirements, and loosen the rule’s restrictions on flaring.

“Local elected officials, frontline communities and thousands of public commenters already made their support for the 2024 EPA methane rule clear when it was developed,” said Jessica Pace, Interim Executive Director of Western Leaders Network. “Weakening it would be an affront to the democratic process, and allow oil and gas companies to observe wasteful practices at a time when local governments and their constituents are worried about skyrocketing energy bills and the costly impacts of climate change.”

The rule was adopted with support from the public, members of Congress, health experts, the oil and gas industry, environmental advocates and other stakeholders, including local, tribal and state elected officials across 11 states in Western Leaders Network (WLN) and Appalachian Leaders Network (ALN).

EPA’s 2024 standards require oil and gas companies to eliminate routing flaring, replace outdated process controllers with zero-pollution equipment, and regularly find and fix leaky equipment. It also establishes a program to address emissions from super-emitters and aims to incentivize more comprehensive monitoring via satellite emissions trackers. When the rule was finalized, the agency projected an 80% cut in methane pollution from sources covered by the standards.

Methane is the main component of natural gas. In the first year since EPA stopped enforcing methane regulations, the oil and gas industry leaked, vented or flared $4.2 billion in natural gas that could have met the natural gas needs of nearly 22 million households.

As EPA developed the 2024 rule and built upon previous regulations, WLN and ALN leaders submitted comments, signed letters and met with agency officials to explain the health, economic and environmental impacts of methane pollution and wasted gas on their communities.

“Our organization marks its 10th anniversary in 2027, and strong federal methane standards have been a priority since our inception. Leaders across our network have invested years advocating for strong federal methane standards, because we know they help prevent the waste of valuable natural gas, create good jobs, and protect air quality while addressing one of the most powerful climate pollutants,” Pace said. “We urge EPA to maintain these safeguards, and will continue working for state-level methane protections that support healthy communities, resilient economies, and clean air.”

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Western Leaders Network and Appalachian Leaders Network harness the power of local, tribal, and state elected and appointed officials to address the climate crisis, advance conservation initiatives, and strengthen democracy.