EPA Proposes Rollback of Methane Emission Rules for Oil and Gas Sector

The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to dismantle a key component of the federal regulatory framework for methane emissions in the oil and gas industry. The proposed rule, announced by the Trump administration this week, seeks to scale back standards finalized in 2023 under the Biden administration. The changes would affect drilling sites nationwide and alter how the government detects and penalizes large leaks of the potent greenhouse gas.

Methane is a major driver of climate change. Estimates indicate the gas is 80 times more warming than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period. The 2023 regulations were designed to curb emissions from the sector. The new proposal, issued under the Clean Air Act, aims to reduce compliance burdens for companies. President Trump made the announcement during a campaign stop in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday. He stated that the revision would save the industry billions of dollars in production costs and encourage more domestic drilling. The timing coincides with Republican efforts to address voter concerns over high gas prices ahead of midterm elections.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the rollback in a press release. He argued that the previous rules targeted the economic backbone of the nation. "Behind every barrel of oil and every cubic foot of natural gas produced in the U.S. are millions of workers, businesses, and the heartbeat of this nation's economy. The Biden EPA destructively targeted all this," Zeldin said. The American Petroleum Institute, the primary trade group for the sector, supported the move. Vice President Dustin Meyer said the industry looks forward to a more workable approach that supports energy production and provides regulatory certainty.

Environmental groups argue the changes will increase costs for the industry by allowing more natural gas to escape. Jon Goldstein, associate vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund, noted that methane is the primary component of natural gas. Capturing the gas prevents it from leaking or being flared, creating a sellable product. "And so that offsets a lot of the costs," Goldstein said. He added that losing this product is harmful to energy security and taxpayers, who should receive royalty and tax revenue from gas that is currently going to waste.

The proposal includes the elimination of the Methane Super Emitter Program. This rule, scheduled to take effect in January 2027, would have allowed the government to rely on certified third parties to monitor for large leaks. These third parties include private and nonprofit satellite programs. Paasha Mahdavi, a political science professor at UC Santa Barbara who studies the oil industry, explained that the program provides the government with critical data for enforcement. "The government needs help from other people to say, 'Hey! You're breaking the law!' so they're able to prosecute," Mahdavi said. Without the program, he warned, it will be more difficult for regulators to spot large leaks from facilities.

The EPA also plans to loosen regulations for low-volume marginal wells. These are defined as wells that are marginally economic, meaning they generate limited profit. Industry critics often assume these wells produce small amounts of emissions. Goldstein countered that satellite data shows these end-of-life wells are responsible for a large share of methane pollution from the production sector. The agency will hold a public comment period of at least 45 days, including a public hearing, once the proposed rule changes are published in the Federal Register.

The rollback represents a shift in federal oversight of the energy sector. It reduces the scope of government monitoring and relaxes standards for specific types of oil and gas infrastructure. The proposal is now subject to review and public input before becoming final rule.