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| A gas flare is seen at a natural gas processing facility near Williston, N.D. in 2015. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown) |
The Washington Post’s Chris
Rooney reports:
The Interior Department on Tuesday finalized a much anticipated new regulation aimed at the oil and gas industry, one that seeks to
capture flared natural gas and corral “fugitive” emissions of methane that
are escaping drilling operations on public and Native American lands.
capture flared natural gas and corral “fugitive” emissions of methane that
are escaping drilling operations on public and Native American lands.
The agency argues that large volumes of
gas are being lost through practices such as venting and flaring — burning off
some of the gas as it arises from a well — as well as inadvertent leaks. And
given that these fossil fuel resources are being gathered from public lands,
the department says it’s incumbent on companies to take precautions not to lose
them — especially since methane released into the atmosphere also worsens
climate change. (Natural gas is mostly methane.)
gas are being lost through practices such as venting and flaring — burning off
some of the gas as it arises from a well — as well as inadvertent leaks. And
given that these fossil fuel resources are being gathered from public lands,
the department says it’s incumbent on companies to take precautions not to lose
them — especially since methane released into the atmosphere also worsens
climate change. (Natural gas is mostly methane.)
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The Interior Department and its Bureau of Land Management, which will implement
the rule, argues such “waste” actually deprives taxpayers of royalty
revenue gathered from oil and gas operations. The agency says the policy, which
requires cutbacks in gas flaring, more inspections for leaks, and in some cases
the installation of new equipment, will reduce methane
emissions by 175,000 to 180,000 tons annually.
“We are proving that we
can cut harmful methane emissions that contribute to climate change, while
putting in place standards that make good economic sense for the nation,” said
Interior department secretary Sally Jewell in a statement. “Not only will we
save more natural gas to power our nation, but we will modernize decades-old
standards to keep pace with industry and to ensure a fair return to the
American taxpayers for use of a valuable resource that belongs to all of us.”
can cut harmful methane emissions that contribute to climate change, while
putting in place standards that make good economic sense for the nation,” said
Interior department secretary Sally Jewell in a statement. “Not only will we
save more natural gas to power our nation, but we will modernize decades-old
standards to keep pace with industry and to ensure a fair return to the
American taxpayers for use of a valuable resource that belongs to all of us.”
The new rule lands just
weeks before a Trump administration takes over with plans to
deregulate much of the energy industry.
weeks before a Trump administration takes over with plans to
deregulate much of the energy industry.
“We will lift the
restrictions on American energy, and allow this wealth to pour into our
communities,” pledges the Trump transition website. “It’s all upside: more
jobs, more revenues, more wealth, higher wages, and lower energy prices.”
restrictions on American energy, and allow this wealth to pour into our
communities,” pledges the Trump transition website. “It’s all upside: more
jobs, more revenues, more wealth, higher wages, and lower energy prices.”
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