EPA cutting back on Obama-era methane regulations

FILE – In this April 24, 2015, file photo, pumpjacks work in a field near Lovington, N.M. Oil industry and environmental groups say they expect the Environmental Protection Agency to release a proposed rule over the next few days that will roll back requirements on detecting and plugging methane leaks at oil and gas facilities. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

The Environmental Protection Agency is cutting back on energy regulations created by the Obama administration, some of which are just copies of other rules.
The latest decision by President Trump’s administration is expected to help oil and gas companies, possibly boosting profits by hundreds of millions of dollars into the next decade.
This includes changing how methane is regulated. Small companies have argued against the installation of technology designed to look for and fix leaks because they say it costs them too much. The president is also planning a rollback of ethanol regulations that are expected to help American farmers.

The Farmers are going to be so happy when they see what we are doing for Ethanol, not even including the E-15, year around, which is already done. It will be a giant package, get ready! At the same time I was able to save the small refineries from certain closing. Great for all!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2019

President Trump talked about what his policies are doing for the future of the industry during a joint news conference with France at the G7 summit.
“We are now the number one energy producer in the world,” he stated. “Soon it will be, by far, the number one — it’s tremendous wealth.”
A few weeks before that speech, the president told a crowd in Pennsylvania his administration was clearing a path for energy and manufacturing companies to grow.
A public comment period will be implemented before the EPA’s new methane policy can take effect. This is just the latest effort by the president to cut regulations. He has opened the door for drilling in Alaska and for mining on public land. Additionally, there are reported plans by the EPA in regards to the Endangered Species Act as well as cutting regulations related to streams and wetlands.