BLM Announces Two-Year Delay of Obama Methane Emissions Rule

In a decision that won’t affect Oklahoma, the Trump administration plans to announce a two-year delay in implementing the 2016 Obama-era rule meant to curb methane emissions from natural gas drilling on public lands. However, Oklahoma firms carrying out exploration on public lands in other states could be affected.

The Bureau of Land Management, in a filing in the Federal Register revealed the move and it drew immediate response from environmentalists.

“Once again, we see the Trump administration doing the bidding of oil and gas companies rather than looking out for public health and the future of the planet,” said Sarah Uhl with the Clean Air Task Force. “We will do everything we can to make sure that the oil and gas industry takes all necessary steps to prevent waste and pollution from its operations on public lands.”

The government delay was revealed after energy firms and one major industry group announced programs to voluntarily reduce emissions of methane through venting and flaring from gas wells.

The American Petroleum Institute announced the new program aimed at reducing emissions and participants include Chevron, BP, royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil.