Grijalva Applauds Biden Administration Action to Curb Harmful Methane Waste
WASHINGTON – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s issuance of a final rule at the Bureau of Land Management to reduce methane waste from oil and gas production on public lands and provide American taxpayers a fairer return on those resources.
“With nearly a quarter of the country’s carbon pollution coming from our public lands, this rule is a much-needed step towards fighting the climate crisis and protecting the health of frontline communities,” Ranking Member Grijalva said. “Big Oil and Gas have been getting away with sloppy operations for too long, carelessly leaking and burning off the extra methane they get from our public lands, without an ounce of regard for the destruction it's causing. I’m grateful the Biden administration is taking the bold action we need to hold fossil fuel facilities to a higher standard, while also making sure industry pays American taxpayers for everything it takes from our public lands, not just what it sells off for profit.”
Methane, the primary component of natural gas, traps about 80 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, making it a significant contributor to the climate crisis. Methane is also often released alongside other hazardous pollutants, like formaldehyde, putting the health of millions of Americans who live near oil and gas facilities at risk.
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