The Environmental Protection Agency’s rollback of leak detection and repair requirements for the oil and gas industry took effect on Monday
But the rollbacks were also met by a legal move from environmental groups seeking a federal court order to block some of them. Led by the Environmental Defense Fund, 10 other health and environmental groups asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to stop the actions of the Trump EPA.
They contend the rollback will undermine the country’s protections against what they claim is dangerous pollution from the oil and gas industry. The groups filed a motion for a partial stay pending a review of the EPA’s rollback of leak detection and repair standards for emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds.
“Hundreds of thousands of people live within half a mile of oil and gas facilities that will be able to emit more dangerous pollution if EPA’s rollback goes forward,” said EDF senior attorney Rosalie Winn. “Once emitted, these pollutants cannot be captured and the harms they cause cannot be reversed.”
The groups claim the rollback will add another 21,000 tons of volatile organic compounds and 800 tons of hazardous air pollutions as well as 77,000 tons of methane into the atmosphere.
A ruling is not expected for weeks.
Sources: EDF/POLITICO