Art de la Cruz House District 12 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
Last week, the U.S. Senate narrowly voted against a proposal to overturn the Bureau of Land Management's natural-gas waste rule. This decision saw three Republicans join 46 Democrats and two independents in maintaining the rule aimed at reducing methane emissions. Despite this outcome, conservation groups in New Mexico remain cautious as the rule's future is still uncertain.
Mona Blaber from the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter described the Senate's decision as a temporary victory. However, she noted that they had received communication from the U.S. Interior Department indicating that the agency might repeal the rule through its own regulatory process.
Blaber expressed concern about potential changes to environmental regulations under the current administration. EPA Director Scott Pruitt recently announced plans to reconsider another Obama-era regulation designed to limit methane emissions from new sources. Conservation groups are preparing for further attempts to deregulate methane emissions.
Methane, a primary component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas with significant climate change implications. It is estimated by BLM that $330 million worth of methane is lost annually due to leaks and flaring on federal and tribal lands. The presence of an invisible cloud of methane over the Four Corners area highlights its environmental impact.
For more information on this issue, contact Mona Blaber at 505-660-5905 or refer to a fact sheet on BLM's methane-waste rule available online.
Jay Johnson/Creative Commons provided photo credit for related imagery.
