Pittsburgh Post Gazette Editorial, Sept. 8, 2020.
Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler was in the Hill District on Aug. 13 to confirm the Trump administration’s decision to rescind federal regulations on methane emissions. This shortsighted rule change will not improve the environment or the public health of American citizens.
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Under the auspices of the Clean Air Act, the Obama administration attempted to regulate methane by introducing rules that required producers to detect and repair methane leaks in their systems installed after 2015. Plugging these leaks was seen as a cost-effective way to address emissions. This was the low-hanging fruit in the campaign to mitigate climate change that Mr. Wheeler has put back on the tree.
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Fortunately, the Trump administration’s indifference to climate does not affect Pennsylvania’s ability to require producers to control their emissions in a reasonable and responsible way.
photo credit: Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
EPA News Release re Wheeler’s Announcement
“PITTSBURGH (August 13, 2020) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced two final rules for the oil and natural gas industry that removes ineffective and duplicative requirements while streamlining others. He made this announcement at the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Mark W. Menezes, U.S. Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), and EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio.”
State Impact Article by Reid Frazier
In Pittsburgh, EPA’s Andrew Wheeler announces methane rollbacks for oil and gas