Inhofe criticizes EPA’s proposed methane standards

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) this week admonished the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest proposed regulation, which seeks to limit methane and volatile organic compound emissions from the oil and natural gas sector.

“EPA’s new proposal to regulate methane emissions is not only unnecessary, but another example of the administration’s punitive expansion of their war on fossil fuels,” Inhofe, who serves as the chairman of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, said. “The oil and gas industry has proven success in reducing methane emissions on their own, even while increasing production levels significantly. The administration’s own data reveals that there has been a decrease in methane emissions from domestic energy producers.”

Inhofe had previously opposed federal regulation of methane emissions from the industry in a letter written to President Obama on June 11, which was co-signed by six other senators. The proposed standards would reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, by 40 to 45 percent by 2025.

“As chairman of the Senate EPW Committee, I plan on conducting rigorous oversight of this rule as it moves forward and will hold a hearing on this subject in the fall…” Inhofe said. “I look forward to joining my colleagues in coming months to fight back on the administration’s attempt to continue punishing American workers and families to further their costly climate agenda.”