Swiftly after arriving in office, the Trump Administration launched multiple attacks on the crucial limits on the amount of methane pollution — a dangerous greenhouse gas — that the oil & gas industry is allowed to vent, leak, and simply burn off (in a process called "flaring") on America's public and tribal lands. The Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management has released a new proposal to replace these protections. But this new draft falls far short of what we need, putting Americans' health and safety at risk. This is especially bad news for people in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico.
Every year, an estimated $330 million worth of natural gas is wasted through these practices on federal and tribal lands — and according to a 2015 study, most of it is happening in your backyard. Colorado loses $26 million in revenue every year. Utah loses $28.4 million. Wyoming loses $42.5 million. New Mexico loses a whopping $101 million.
This dangerously lax new regulation wastes taxpayer dollars, while taking direct aim at Americans' health and safety. Take action today, and demand the stronger protections that Americans deserve.
Americans deserve stronger methane protections
Dear [Decision Maker],
I am writing today in strong opposition to BLM's recent proposal to weaken crucial methane waste protections.
Doing so defends the worst actors of the oil & gas industry, and puts their interests above the health and safety of American families and their communities, all while wasting taxpayer dollars. Since 2013, more than $1.7 billion worth of natural gas has been squandered on public and tribal lands.
The best in the business have made it clear that this problem can be fixed using available, low-cost technologies. And the majority of Americans want to see strong protections implemented.
Without public hearings, their voices aren't being heard. Please establish public hearings across the West so that the Americans affected by this proposal can give their input.
And instead of moving forward with this dangerous new proposal, please leave in place the current limits that effectively protected Americans' health, safety, and wallets.
[Your comments here]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
