A Department of the Interior’s announcement last week on new methane regulations will have local impacts, especially in the area around Dinosaur National Monument. Secretary Sally Jewell announced the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule which the DOI defined as “a final rule that will reduce the wasteful release of natural gas into the atmosphere from oil and gas operations on public and Indian lands.” Jewell also emphasized that this will “save more natural gas to power our nation [and] modernize decades-old standards to keep pace with industry…” The new rule will require oil and gas producers to cut flaring in half at oil wells on public and tribal lands. This is to be done by replacing equipment and limiting venting from storage tanks. The approval of the new methane regulations are tied to a push from the BLM and National Parks Conservation Association, in their words, to “curb climate change and protect park air.” Nicholas Lund from the Conservation programs stated, “When oil and gas facilities leak or vent methane they harm national parks, waste taxpayer money, and contribute to climate change. If we don’t control methane emissions, national parks in oil and gas regions will continue to experience declining air quality and increasing climate disruption.” Many conservatives are calling the announcement a final effort from the left to push Obama’s environmental agenda before a change in the Presidency.
