Communities Speak to the EPA on Oil and Gas Methane Rules

Background: This week 3 days of public hearing are being held by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on new proposed rules for methane pollution from new and existing sources of oil and gas industry air pollution. On the first day of his presidency, Biden ordered the EPA to write new rules to curb methane pollution. Earlier this month, the EPA released those rules and now they have opened up the floor to public input.

The new standards go far beyond the Obama-era rules of 2016, but do not go far enough to address pollution from unlit flares or require frequent enough inspections of covered sources. Important gaps on critical issues must be remedied before the rules are finalized to ensure frontline communities are protected. EPA must use the full extent of the law to hold the oil and gas industry accountable for their pollution and limit the worst impacts of the current climate crisis.

Statements from Impacted Community Members:

"The mission of the EPA is no less prominent today than its inception 50 years ago. The Agency has a critical duty to create the strongest and most effective rules possible to reduce the dangerous impact of emissions from the oil and gas industry. The proposed rules fall short of that mark but we are testifying today to encourage the EPA to get there."
- Kathy Kemper, Longmont, CO

"As the third largest contributor to greenhouse gas pollution in the United States, my home state of Pennsylvania bears an enormous share of the nation's burden, but loopholes in state regulations do not reflect that enhanced responsibility. I must therefore rely on the EPA to eliminate all dangerous and unnecessary exemptions in the current proposed federal regulations, especially those related to methane releases, flaring, and low-producing wells."
- Barbara Jarmoska, Lycoming County, PA

"Environmental justice is not served when the federal agency expects state efforts that simply will not occur. The political influence of the industry is too vast, the industry too out of sight from most. Pennsylvania will not be a part of a broad ensemble of efforts and a large portion of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions will not be addressed in a timely enough manner without more Federal actions."
- Ralph Kisberg, Lycoming County, PA