This week, the EPA released a final rule weakening federal methane pollution standards. The rule rolls back requirements to monitor and limit industry practices that waste natural gas resources and emit health-harming pollutants.
In response, EEN President and CEO Dr. Rev. Jessica Moerman released the following statement:
“Natural gas flaring wastes precious energy resources at the very moment American families are struggling with rising energy costs and releases toxic pollutants linked to stroke, heart disease, childhood asthma, adverse birth outcomes including preterm birth, and even cancer. The EPA’s decision to relax important requirements for industry to monitor and limit flaring is a step in the wrong direction for making America healthy again and protecting the sanctity of life. Limiting natural gas waste and methane pollution is cost-effective and brings much-needed energy resources to market to heat and fuel American homes.
“Unraveling cost-effective and life-saving methane pollution safeguards is also at odds with the EPA’s mission to protect human health. This week’s reversal on natural gas flaring is just the first of many significant rollbacks to methane protections the EPA has signaled it will make in the coming months. American families, especially those in oil and gas country, are justified in asking the EPA why it is wasting our taxpayer dollars on eliminating cost-effective methane pollution protections that help prevent cancer, dementia, and birth defects—time and money that could instead be directed toward building upon the positive first steps it has taken to address new and emerging health toxins, like microplastics in drinking water, and accelerate developing full and robust solutions to those.”
