FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 5, 2025
CONTACT: Jessica Pace, 615-294-2049, jess@westernleaders.org

Western Leaders Network responds to EPA plans to delay compliance deadline for federal methane safeguards

Reducing methane emissions is essential to protecting frontline communities, public health, and the economic benefits of methane mitigation

“Western Leaders Network has long been a part of the fight for federal methane safeguards, because local, tribal, and state elected officials want strong local economies and healthy air quality for their constituents. Delaying compliance deadlines for the EPA methane rule lets polluters off the hook at the expense of communities that struggle daily with the impacts of climate change and miss out on much-needed revenue generated from captured methane. Though some states are already leading the way by implementing this commonsense rule, other states lag behind and would suffer disproportionately from this delay. We will continue to defend and work toward cutting methane to ensure all communities can breathe clean air, enjoy the economic benefits of methane mitigation, and build a healthier climate future.” – Jessica Pace, Interim Executive Director, Western Leaders Network

Background
This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to move forward with delaying the deadlines for oil and gas producers to comply with the 2024 federal EPA rule to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Reducing methane pollution is the fastest, most cost-effective way to slow the impacts of climate change, which include poor air quality, extreme temperatures and wildfire seasons, prolonged drought and the depletion of water resources, all of which place an undue burden on local, tribal, and state governments and their communities.