Press Releases

Washington, DC – Today, as President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announce new commitment to combat climate change, 75 Democratic Members of Congress wrote to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, encouraging the agency to finalize proposed rules for new and modified sources of methane emission and to develop proposals to regulate existing sources of methane in the oil and gas industry. The previously-announced proposed rules for new and modified sources of methane would avoid the equivalent of 7.7. to 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2025. Action to limit existing sources could eliminate another 75 million metric tons by 2025, putting the United States closer to achieving the Obama Administration’s Climate Action Plan goals.

“Reducing methane from existing sources is the necessary next step in order to meet the Administration’s goals under the Climate Action Plan,” the members wrote. “Acting on existing sources now will result in significant savings, and provide a level playing field going forward.  We also suggest that EPA examine methane emissions downstream in the oil and gas sector to see if further reductions are achievable.”

The signers were led by Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-01), Jared Polis (CO-02), Matt Cartwright (PA-17), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and John Sarbanes (MD-03).