Earthjustice Applauds Congressional Leadership to Restore Methane Pollution Standards
Trump-era rollback threatens the environment and public health
Contacts
Siham Zniber, Earthjustice, szniber@earthjustice.org
Today, a group of lawmakers led by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval to rescind former President Trump’s rollback of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Methane Pollution Standard. The following is a statement from Jessica Ennis, Legislative Director for Climate and Energy:
“The Trump administration recklessly and unlawfully rolled back the Methane Pollution Standard in a short-sighted giveaway to the oil and gas industry that further exacerbated the climate crisis. We applaud Congressional leadership working to undo their damage, and we look forward to working with the Biden administration to restore and strengthen this essential environmental and public health protection.”
Background:
In 2016, the Obama administration’s EPA finalized the first-ever nationwide requirements to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Methane is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and is a major contributor to the climate crisis. The Trump administration rolled back this commonsense standard in 2020. In his day one Executive Order, President Biden directed agencies to consider revising these critical standards.
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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.
