Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans on Newsmax to loosen methane regulations for oil and gas producers, aiming to reverse policies from the Biden administration. He described this move as a significant action following a continued effort to support the energy sector.
During an event in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Zeldin stated that the EPA would soon propose revisions to the 2024 methane and smog-emissions rules, expecting the changes to save $45 billion. He emphasized that the Trump administration’s 20-month campaign against previous regulations was vital to provide reliable energy sources to consumers.
The proposed changes would eliminate a program mandating responses to major methane leaks and ease regulations on low-producing wells, which are responsible for a substantial portion of methane emissions. Zeldin stressed the need for “common sense” regulations that do not target American consumers unfairly.
Environmental organizations expressed strong dissent, labeling the proposal as misguided, especially given methane’s role as a significant climate change contributor. The EPA’s reconsideration of these rules marks a continuing trend of deregulation under Zeldin’s leadership.
