EPA to scrap methane leak rules for small oil wells

The Trump administration will eliminate federal methane emissions requirements for low-output oil and gas wells, a move that reduces regulatory costs for producers but removes a key tool for curbing a potent greenhouse gas. President Donald Trump announced the termination of the Biden-era rules at a midterm rally in Texas on Tuesday. He stated that the move aims to save consumers and energy producers from what he called expensive and unnecessary regulations.

The specific targets are stripper wells, which produce approximately 7% to 8% of U.S. natural gas. Despite their low output, research indicates these wells may account for roughly 50% of methane that leaks into the atmosphere from the oil and gas sector. Many of these wells are near the end of their productive lives or face profitability challenges. The National Stripper Well Association advocated for the change, arguing in a letter last month that compliance costs would make the wells uneconomical to operate.

Methane is the primary component of natural gas and traps heat more effectively than carbon dioxide. Scientists estimate it is about 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year span. It contributes to roughly one-third of all global warming. The Biden administration previously finalized rules in 2024 to address leaks from these operations, viewing them as a rapid method to lower emissions.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin previewed the changes earlier this month. He stated that Americans must be able to afford winter heating and driving to work, noting that they cannot do so when producers are weighed down by unnecessary burdens. The agency also plans to eliminate its Super Emitter Program, which allowed third-party groups to report methane leaks. The administration paused the program last year and is now seeking to shut it down permanently. Leaks are often invisible to the naked eye but can be detected by satellites or thermal imaging cameras.

Health advocates warn that the rollback will increase exposure to volatile organic compounds, which are released alongside methane. Liz Scott, a senior director of national advocacy for the American Lung Association, said the associated pollution carries immediate health harms, particularly for communities living near oil and gas sites. David Doniger, a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, described methane leaks as a form of pollution where companies lose the product they are selling while harming the planet.

The changes must pass through an EPA rulemaking process that includes a public comment period. If a final rule is adopted, it could face legal challenges. Doniger said he would expect the move to result in another lawsuit from a coalition of environmental groups. The EPA has recently repealed vehicle emissions rules and announced plans to loosen limits on coal- and gas-fired power plants. Zeldin has described his agenda as an effort to drive a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion.

Recent climate data shows intensifying impacts. The European Union's Copernicus climate monitoring service reported that last year was the third-hottest in modern history. The past 11 years are the 11 warmest on record. June through August this year marked the warmest such period on record for the contiguous United States.