Donald Trump announced the administration's intention to "terminate" the methane emissions rules introduced under Joe Biden. The statement came on Tuesday evening at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas.
The president called the measures "costly and unnecessary" and promised that the repeal would save consumers and energy producers 45 billion dollars. According to him, the changes will also allow for the extraction of an additional 210 million barrels of oil.
The reference is to the 2024 rules, which for the first time established nationwide requirements for reducing methane leaks at existing oil and gas facilities. They obligated companies to monitor and repair leaks, as well as to limit gas flaring.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has presented a draft of the changes that weakens standards for low-production wells and eliminates the Super Emitter program. That program allowed third-party organizations to report major methane leaks.
Trump stressed that Biden's rules "crushed" small operators and led to higher prices. The administration links the repeal to the need to increase domestic production and lower costs for Americans.
Critics warn of the danger to the climate. Methane remains a potent greenhouse gas, and earlier EPA estimates assumed that Biden's rules would cut emissions by 80 percent over 14 years.
The changes come amid the election campaign in Texas and Republicans' desire to support candidates in the midterm elections. How will the weakening of oversight affect actual methane emissions in the coming years?
Previously, the Trump administration had already delayed the implementation of some provisions of the rules and repealed other Biden climate measures. Now the EPA is preparing narrower adjustments specifically on methane.
