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EPA Finalizes Methane Emission Rule
The EPA finalized a rule to curb methane emissions from oil and gas production, imposing fees for excess waste and offering incentives for repairs.
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United States
Us PoliticsClimate ChangeEnergy SecurityEnvironmentRegulationClimateEmissionsMethane
Environmental Protection Agency (Epa)Oil And Gas Companies
Michael Regan
- Why is methane considered a significant environmental concern?
- Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide and contributes significantly to global warming. Its concentration in the atmosphere is at its highest level in 800,000 years.
- What is the main purpose of the new EPA rule regarding methane?
- The EPA finalized a rule to curb methane leaks from oil and gas producers. The rule will charge producers a fee for exceeding methane waste thresholds, offering financial incentives for leak repairs.
- What is the EPA's estimate of the rule's impact on methane emissions?
- The EPA estimates the rule will prevent 1.2 million metric tons of methane from entering the atmosphere, equivalent to removing almost 8 million gasoline-powered cars from the road.
- How might the Inflation Reduction Act affect the durability of the new rule?
- The rule, mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to reduce methane emissions by preventing venting or burning of excess gas, making it challenging for a future administration to overturn.
- What incentives are included in the new rule to encourage cooperation from oil and gas companies?
- The rule includes financial incentives for oil and gas companies to repair leaks and infrastructure, encouraging them to capture and use methane instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.