The oil and gas industry is recklessly leaking millions of tons of methane pollution and toxic chemicals into the air. So much so, the oil and gas industry is the largest methane polluter in the United States.

These industrial leaks are like an invisible oil spill happening every day. The pollution from these leaks (and intentional releases) can have negative health impacts on communities surrounding oil and gas development, and the climate too, including:

• Increased cancer and respiratory health risk;
• Asthma attacks;
• Fetal defects; and
• 87 times more heat trapping power than carbon dioxide over 20 years.

Obama-era Safeguards…

That’s why the Obama Administration created Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department safeguards as part of a goal for the United States to cut oil and gas methane pollution by 40 to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025.

These common sense safeguards require the oil and gas industry to use readily available, up-to-date, low cost technology and maintenance practices, to reduce methane pollution and associated air toxics.

The standards also require oil and gas companies to find and repair “leaks” — known as fugitive emissions — which are also a significant pollution source of methane and associated volatile organic compounds.

…the Trump Administration Is Trying To Kill

Unfortunately the Trump administration to trying to kill both the Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department methane safeguards. Despite multiple court defeats, both EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke have proposed new rules that would negate the Obama rules and allow unlimited methane pollution.

What You Can Do

If you think we should cut oil & gas methane pollution — and the toxics that are emitted along with it — please call EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and/or Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and tell him to keep the methane safeguards that help protect our climate and the local communities affected by oil and gas extraction.