Press Room

September 18, 2018

Trump Administration Launches More Attacks on Public Health with Methane Rule Rollback

Bureau of Land Management follows pro-polluter EPA with its own rescission of Obama-era protections

Washington, D.C. —

Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) largely rescinded its Waste Prevention Rule. The 2016 rule requires the oil and gas industry to use cost-effective technologies and practices to reduce venting and flaring, as well as find and fix leaks from oil and gas infrastructure on public and tribal lands. The announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to repeal key parts of its Methane Pollution Standard.

The following is a statement from Robin Cooley, Staff Attorney, Earthjustice: “Repealing a commonsense rule that saves taxpayers money and protects our health from pollution is irrational. The Trump administration is once again taking its marching orders from the oil and gas industry while ignoring taxpayers and people who are living every day with the devastating impacts of drilling in their backyards.”

Since taking office, the Trump administration has attempted to roll back health, safety and environmental regulations to advance corporate and polluter interests. In response, Earthjustice has filed more than 100 lawsuits to defend the protections that make our environment healthier and our communities safer. The federal courts have been handing Trump one loss after another, ruling that the administration cannot illegally stop or delay the implementation of existing environmental laws.

Earthjustice has represented several conservation and tribal citizen groups in successful lawsuits to block the Trump administration’s prior attempts to illegally suspend the Waste Prevention Rule.

Navajo Community leader Daniel Tso has watched as oil and gas operations have encroached more and more on his community’s tribal lands.
Navajo Community leader Daniel Tso has watched as oil and gas operations have encroached more and more on his community’s tribal lands. “The leases have been signed, the approval has been given, but the one thing — how do we mitigate the adverse impacts, the health and safety of the people?” asks Tso. (Steven St. John for Earthjustice)

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About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.