Feb 24, 2018:
http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/375370-wasting-natural-gas-on-public-lands
Feb 23, 2018:
Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California temporarily blocked the U.S. BLM from postponing or ending enforcement of the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule.
U.S. court blocks Trump administration from ending oil, gas waste rule | Reuters
Federal Court Reinstates Key Methane Rule, Calls Zinke's Delay "Baseless" | NRDC
Feb 12, 2018:
In a press release, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a proposal entitled "BLM OFFERS REVISION TO METHANE WASTE PREVENTION RULE" which seeks to revise the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule. Among other things, the proposal states the following:
Among the concerns identified was that the economic impact on operators was underestimated in the 2016 rule. In addition, a review of existing state and federal regulations found considerable overlap with the rule. As a result, the BLM is proposing to replace the venting and flaring rule with requirements similar to those that were in force prior to the 2016 final rule. This proposal would align the regulations with administration priorities on energy development, job creation and reduced compliance costs while also working more closely with existing state regulatory efforts.
Zinke to Oil and Gas Industry: Let 'Er Rip | NRDC
Trump and Zinke Propose Gutting Commonsense Pollution Safeguard | Sierra Club
Oct 4, 2017:
In a press release, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) headed by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke released a proposal entitled "BLM PROPOSES TO SUSPEND OR DELAY PARTS OF WASTE PREVENTION RULE" which seeks to "temporarily suspend or delay certain requirements" contained in the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule until January 17, 2019. Among other things, the proposal states the following:
The BLM found that some parts of the 2016 final rule appear to be unnecessarily burdensome on industry.In planning for additional review of the rule, the BLM determined that a temporary suspension or delay of certain requirements would avoid compliance costs on operators for requirements that may be rescinded or significantly revised in the near future.
Interior moves to delay Obama's methane leak rule | The Hill
Trump administration plans to delay methane controls on oil, gas | Reuters
Jul 31, 2017:
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the EPA must enforce the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule finalized on November 15, 2016.
Court tells EPA to enforce Obama methane pollution rule | The Hill
Jul 3, 2017:
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the EPA can't delay enforcement of the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule.
Court rejects Trump's delay of EPA drilling pollution rule | The Hill
May 10, 2017:
By a vote of 51-49, the U.S. Senate voted against reversing an Obama administration Methane and Waste Prevention Rule finalized on November 15, 2016 which regulates methane gas emissions from oil and gas production on federal and tribal lands.
All 48 Democrats voted against, along with three Republicans - Susan Collins (Maine), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), and John McCain (Arizona).
The GOP effort to reverse the rule was done using the Congressional Review Act which only requires a simple majority vote in the Senate (51 votes) for passage.
Senate blocks move to repeal Obama-era rule on methane emissions | PBS
Bid to revoke Obama methane rule fails in surprise U.S. Senate vote | Reuters
Senate rejects repeal of Obama drilling rule | The Hill
Nov 15, 2016:
The Obama administration finalized a rule (Methane and Waste Prevention Rule) which regulates flaring, venting and natural gas leaks from oil and gas production on federal and tribal lands.
Methane is the primary component of natural gas. Flaring is the process of burning off excess or unwanted gas.
Implementation of the new rule will prevent the waste of natural gas, will prevent methane (a greenhouse gas) from being released into the atmosphere, and will increase government royalties.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the regulations on flaring will be phased in over several years, and they will affect only 16 percent of oil wells (which account for 87 percent of gas flared).
Immediately after the announcement of the new rule, the Western Energy Alliance and the Independent Petroleum Association of America filed a lawsuit challenging the rule. Read a press release regarding the lawsuit entitled "Independents Challenge BLM's Venting and Flaring Rule" here.
Source:
Volcovici, Valerie. (November 15, 2016). "Obama administration completes rule to curb methane from federal oil, gas production". Reuters. Retrieved 2017-05-10.