From WV Rivers Coalition, April 29, 2017

Senate action to revoke the Methane Waste Rule is still on the table. The rule would reduce the amount of methane burned, flared, or leaked from oil and gas operations on public lands. Senator Joe Manchin has said be believes that methane should, indeed, be captured and marketed. WVPL agrees with Senator Manchin, that the taxpayers deserve royalties on all gas extracted on federal lands — including in West Virginia. The rule also reduces air pollution.

You can ask Senator Manchin to vote against revoking the Methane Rule by calling his office at 202-224-3954. Ask him to vote against revoking the Methane Rule.

Statement by Michelle Robinson, Union of Concerned Scientists

WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is re-considering a rule that would limit methane emissions from oil and gas extraction operations. This opens the door to weakening the rule, which is vital to protecting public health and reducing the risk of climate change, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

Below is a statement by Michelle Robinson, director of the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“There’s no dispute about the science here. Methane is an incredibly potent greenhouse gas, and the scale of methane emissions from oil and gas production is enormous. There are proven, low-cost ways to capture methane instead of letting it pollute our air, and the last administration put in place standards to make sure we do just that. It makes no sense for Administrator Pruitt to put those rules at risk.

“Instead of looking backwards to review well-reasoned rules based on clear science, the administration should be moving forward, extending these sensible protections to existing sources of methane.

“This is a clear case of EPA leadership listening to powerful industry voices rather than the evidence. The EPA’s job is not to protect Scott Pruitt’s friends in the oil and gas industry—it’s to protect the health and safety of Americans, based on science. Rolling back these rules would be a mistake not just for today, but for generations in the future.”

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The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.

Source: https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/19/weakening-methane-rule-would-come-cost-climate-health