The Senate has passed a resolution with a 52-42 vote to reinstate the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2016 methane pollution safeguards for the oil and gas industry. This decision marks an effort to reverse actions taken by the previous administration concerning climate and public health protections. The White House has expressed its support for this resolution.

Methane, which is primarily found in fracked gas, is recognized as a significant climate pollutant. It is noted to be 87 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of near-term planetary warming. Despite economic slowdowns due to the pandemic, methane emissions have reached unprecedented levels over the past year. Research suggests that actual emissions from oil and gas operations are significantly higher than official estimates indicate. An upcoming report from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the United Nations Environment Programme is expected to emphasize the importance of reducing methane emissions to mitigate severe climate change effects.

Attention now shifts to the House of Representatives, where a vote on this measure is anticipated in the coming weeks.

Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Mahyar Sorour commented, “We are thrilled the Senate has passed this resolution and taken such a critical step in the right direction to reducing methane pollution from oil and gas development. We look forward to the House following suit in the coming weeks and President Biden signing this measure into law.” Sorour further urged for additional action: “We call on EPA to build upon the 2016 methane safeguards and cut methane pollution from both new and existing oil and gas operations by 65 percent below 2012 levels in the next five years.”

Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Director, expressed gratitude towards Senator Heinrich's leadership: “We are so grateful to Senator Heinrich for leading this effort to protect states like New Mexico from the worsening impacts of global climate change that are being driven by oil and gas methane waste and pollution.”