Dear Duane, For the very first time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed federal rules limiting methane pollution, volatile organic compounds (VOC) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from existing oil and gas well sites, storage tanks and compressor stations nationwide. The EPA has also updated pollution standards for new oil and gas well sites. These new rules will greatly decrease climate-disrupting methane pollution, asthma-causing VOCs, and carcinogenic HAPs like benzene, but the EPA could go significantly further to improve public health in gas drilling regions and is specifically asking impacted residents to weigh in on several important questions about what the newly proposed rule should cover and how. One of the most important parts of the new federal pollution standards is the consideration of community-driven air monitoring that will ensure frontline communities have a voice and the needed information to reduce air pollution from nearby oil and gas infrastructure. The two upcoming public hearings on these new EPA rules are November 30th and December 1, from 11 AM to 9 PM EST both days. If enough people register, the EPA is considering a third day of testimony December 2. We need to demonstrate overwhelming support for this pollution standard. You can click here to sign up through Eventbrite. You can also directly email SPPDpublichearing@epa.gov or call (888) 372-8699 to sign up. The deadline to sign-up is Wednesday, November 24th. Please confirm your sign-up with Clean Air Council by replying back to this email so we can share additional information to assist you in drafting testimony. According to the EPA, methane pollution contributes to a full one-third of the climate chaos we’re currently experiencing and the oil and gas industry is the single largest source of methane pollution in the U.S., emitting more climate pollution than either agricultural operations or landfills. Methane is up to 87 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. The EPA has even concluded that while carbon dioxide emissions have decreased because of lifestyle changes during the current global COVID-19 pandemic, methane pollution from the oil and gas industry has steadily increased. The EPA is projecting that this pollution standard will create $4.5 billion in climate benefits a year while reducing 41 million tons of methane pollution by 2035, but Clean Air Council believes this rule could be significantly improved and EPA is specifically requesting comment on a few specific areas of the rule. Thanks for considering engaging in these critical rules at a critical time for addressing climate change. |
