Tell EPA: Finalize Strong Methane Rules to Protect Children's Health

Methane pollution from oil and gas operations is accelerating the pace of climate change and harming the health of our families and communities—and it is a problem that is only getting worse. 

EPA has released an updated rule to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations. The new proposal from EPA would reduce methane pollution from sources covered by the rule by 87% below 2005 levels. It would also strengthen leak detection and repair requirements, continue to require equipment not to emit methane, address high-emission incidents with a new monitoring response program, and require that abandoned wells are subject to inspections until they are closed.

Tell EPA to swiftly finalize this methane rule—to help ensure everyone's right to clean air.

I am deeply concerned with the health impacts of air pollution and climate change on my family and my community. I am counting on a strong and comprehensive final methane rule to address the gaps in the rule proposed in 2021. 

I am encouraged to see that the latest methane proposal includes several improvements over the earlier version, such as 

- Strengthening leak detection and repair (LDAR) requirements, including requiring inspections at small wells with leak-prone equipment, which are responsible for roughly half of all the oil and gas methane emissions nationwide;
- Maintaining zero-emitting pneumatic equipment requirements;
- Taking steps toward addressing highly polluting incidents with a new Super-Emitter Response Program; 
- Requiring that abandoned wells are subject to inspections until closure; and
- Requiring that flares are properly operated to reduce emissions.
 
I urge EPA to also consider ways to strengthen this rule, such as:

- Ensuring that operators fully eliminate pollution from routine flaring;
- Strengthening the standards to address emissions from storage tanks by making them applicable to more tanks; and
- Providing a clear pathway for community participation in the Super-Emitter Response Program by ensuring that local residents can access data and technologies to help reduce methane and other pollutants and that EPA maintains its commitment to environmental justice by ensuring that frontline communities most harmed by oil and gas sites can also access data and hold polluters accountable.
 
Please finalize this important rule as swiftly as possible to help protect our air and our climate.

[Your comment here]

Sincerely,

[Your name here]
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