Methane Regulations Weakened by EPA and Trump Administration
Recently the Trump Administration and EPA’s Andrew Wheeler have decided to weaken the methane rules, which were previously protected by former president Obama.
Methane is a key greenhouse gas. Although it doesn’t linger in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, it is more potent and holds heat in the air at a higher rate. One reason I believe these regulations on monitoring methane are being weakened is because of money.
The EPA expects $75 million to be saved annually by reducing the inspections. But our atmosphere and health are more important! From 2019 to 2025, 380,000 tons of methane is expected to be released into the atmosphere. This is an urgent issue. Methane being trapped in the atmosphere is one of the biggest components of climate change today because of how long heat stays trapped up there.
Winters everywhere are becoming warmer and average temperatures are increasing, and that’s going to continue if more methane is being released and it is going to be monitored less. This is an issue that needs to have more light shed upon it, and more awareness needs to be spread about it because of how much of an impact it will have on the earth in the future.
We need people who actually care about the longevity of our planet in these EPA positions. This was an obvious financial move to please the oil and gas industry as in no way did this benefit the environment or atmosphere in any way.
Donald Moore
Durango
