Quigley Applauds Final Rule to Reduce Methane Emissions & Wasted Gas on Public, Tribal Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the Smart Climate Caucus and Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC), applauded the Department of Interior’s announcement of the new Methane and Waste Prevention Rule – a final rule that will reduce the wasteful and unnecessary release of methane gas into the atmosphere as a byproduct of oil and gas operations on public and Indian lands.

“It is long past due for us to update decades-long regulations in order to protect our earth, as well as our economy,” said Rep. Quigley. “This final rule will play a key role in eliminating waste, preserving our natural gas supplies, and combating the emission of dangerous greenhouse gasses that are warming our world.”

The final rule, which will be phased in over time, will help curb waste of our shared natural gas resources; reduce harmful air pollution, including climate-warming methane; and provide a fair return on public resources for federal taxpayers, Tribes, and States. 

The United States is the largest natural gas producer in the world, but venting, flaring, and leaks of significant quantities of gas during production process have prevented the American people from benefiting the energy resource’s full potential. Between 2009 and 2015, enough natural gas was lost to serve more than 6 million households for a full calendar year. According to a 2010 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, that amount of wasted gas means states, tribes and federal taxpayers lose millions of dollars annually in royalty revenue for the Federal Government and the states that share it.

More information about the rule is available here along with Regulatory Impact Analysis and Environmental Assessment.

Rep. Quigley has been a stalwart protector of the environment since he arrived in Washington in 2009. Most recently, he spoke to colleagues addressing climate change as a national security issue. After the crisis in Flint, Michigan, he partnered with Illinois officials to push for better EPA lead and copper standards. Last year, he went on a tour through the Pullman and Calumet region to highlight the positive impact environmental restoration can have on community development. He has urged his colleagues in the House to put partisanship aside and craft America’s first national energy plan to address climate change. During his Chicago Climate Tour of 2013, he visited regional environmental sites to hear from experts on the local impact of climate change and efforts to address the issue.

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