Palmer Opposes EPA Methane Rule That Punishes Energy Production

For Immediate Release

Washington, DC – Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), a member of the Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Environment, strongly opposes the EPA's newly proposed rule on methane emissions that will apply to new or modified oil or natural gas sources. The effect will be to discourage the development of America's vast untapped energy reserves and to increase the cost of energy. This will disproportionately hurt the poorest and most vulnerable Americans.

Citing a study conducted by the University of Texas in coordination with the Environmental Defense Fund, Palmer noted that methane emissions represented approximately 0.38 percent of the total natural gas withdrawal and production in 2012.

"In 2014, the EPA noted that methane emission from fracking has fallen 73 percent since 2011, and overall methane emission from U.S. natural gas emissions has declined by at least 15% percent since 1990,'' Palmer said. "The research noted that a small number of sites accounted for the majority of those emissions, suggesting that technology already in use across the industry is effectively managing methane leakage."

Scientists agree that methane emissions need to be kept under 2-3 percent of total production and, according to the EPA's own data, the current leakage rate is only about 1.5 percent. Because of that, many experts claim the EPA's proposed rule is unnecessary.

The EPA's own study seems to agree.

"EPA's data seems to agree that we're controlling methane leakage,'' Palmer said. "And data from a high profile environmental group like the Environmental Defense Fund implies methane emissions are not a problem. So this begs the question, why is the EPA proposing unnecessary regulations?"

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, said this is another sign of the EPA's opposition to responsible energy development.

"The EPA's proposed methane rule is yet another example of the Obama administration's war on American energy jobs," Smith said. "The EPA's own data shows that methane emissions in the United States decreased by almost 15% between 1990 and 2013, yet EPA is forging ahead with this extraneous and unnecessary regulation. EPA should stop punishing cooperative industry stakeholders and start partnering with them in their current efforts to capture methane in a responsible manner. The EPA's opposition to responsible, market-driven, ‘all-of-the-above' domestic energy development is on full display with the announcement of this new regulation."

For any additional questions, contact:

Cliff Smith, (202) 225-4921, clifford.smith@mail.house.gov

U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-AL) serves on three Congressional committees: Oversight and Government Reform, Budget, and Science, Space and Technology. Visit Palmer online at his website or via Facebook,Twitter, or Instagram.