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ARTICLE · 14 SEPTEMBER 2018

EPA Proposes Rollback To 2016 Methane Rule

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On September 11, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to amend various provisions of a key Obama-era regulation that sought to reduce methane emissions...

United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
David H. Quigley
David H. Quigley
Stacey H. Mitchell
Stacey H. Mitchell
Bryan Williamson
Bryan Williamson
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On September 11, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to amend various provisions of a key Obama-era regulation that sought to reduce methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations. The proposed rule would amend many provisions of the 2016 rule’s new source performance standards and replace them with less stringent monitoring, repair and certification requirements for oil and natural gas operators.1 EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler stated that the proposed rule would support “increased domestic energy production” and save the oil and gas industry up to $484 million in regulatory compliance costs by 2025.2

Specifically, the proposed rule would:

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