Coalition Urges Senate to Pass Methane CRA Resolution

WASHINGTON – Today the American Energy Alliance and a coalition of free-market and conservative organizations sent a letter to the Senate urging them to pass the Congressional Review Act resolution nullifying the Bureau of Land Management’s methane regulation. Below is an excerpt from the letter:

This regulation comes with a high price tag. The American Action Forum estimates that this rule will cost roughly $297 million per year ($1.8 billion in total). The methane rule will decrease energy production on federal lands, leading to fewer revenues from royalties and higher energy costs, not to mention lost jobs. This regulation runs completely counter to the pro-growth agenda many of you ran upon in the 2016 elections.

The rule is entirely unnecessary. The EPA found that methane emissions fell by 13 percent from 2011-2014. The EPA also found that methane emissions from hydraulic fracturing fell 81 percent between 2012 and 2014. This drop in methane emissions occurred even as U.S. oil and gas production has significantly increased due to the shale revolution.

The oil and gas sector has been so successful in reducing methane emissions from venting and flaring, in part, because methane itself is a valuable resource that producers capture and sell. It is in their best interests to reduce methane emissions. Forcing this one-size-fits-all regulation on an industry that is already substantially reducing methane emissions is unnecessary and costly.

Some Senators have voiced concerns that CRA method precludes future regulations. This concern is misplaced. The rule, as written, is meant to regulate methane emissions for air quality. However, BLM only has the authority to regulate waste—the EPA regulates air quality and already has a methane regulation in place. Regardless of your position on the regulation, it is clear that the BLM is far afield from its jurisdiction.

AEA President Thomas Pyle also issued the following statement after reports that Senators Grassley and Thune may hold the resolution hostage over an ethanol waiver:

“The methane CRA resolution would protect American families and workers from an unnecessary and costly regulation. It is irresponsible and a disservice to their constituents for Senators Grassley and Thune to hold this resolution hostage over an ethanol waiver. The House passed this resolution more than two months ago and it’s past time the Senate does the same.”

Click here to read the full coalition letter.

Click here to read Tom Pyle’s recent op-ed in Morning Consult.

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