Anjali Taneja House District 18 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its proposals to remove methane protections from the New Source Performance Standards. This decision is seen as undermining public health and disproportionately affecting Black and Brown communities, who are already facing higher rates of air pollution from oil and gas development. Critics argue that this move limits oversight of over 850,000 existing source oil and gas wells at a time when protections are crucial.
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler's actions have drawn criticism for prioritizing corporate interests over community health amid a global pandemic that affects marginalized communities more severely. Camilla Feibelman of the Sierra Club stated, "The Trump Administration is putting our communities at risk, once again." She emphasized the need for strong state rules as New Mexico's governor moves forward with state methane regulations.
Jon Goldstein from the Environmental Defense Fund highlighted the importance of maintaining federal protections, stating, "These attacks on federal protections underscore the urgent need for nation-leading state rules from Gov. Lujan Grisham."
Emily Wolf of the National Parks Conservation Association criticized the EPA's measures, saying they weaken control over methane emissions and harm public health. Ben Shelton from Conservation Voters New Mexico described the rollback as part of a series of dismantled environmental protections by the Trump administration favoring the oil and gas industry.
Erik Schlenker-Goodrich from the Western Environmental Law Center argued that these rollbacks prioritize polluters over vulnerable communities' health and exacerbate climate issues. He stated it demonstrates how "EPA’s public health and environmental mission has been intentionally sabotaged by Trump administration ideologues."
