FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2015
Contact: Doug Paddock, Field Organizer, IORC, 208-991-4451
Idaho Organization of Resource Councils Applauds New Methane Pollution Standard
New standard will help safeguard public health, mitigate climate change, and reduce waste
Washington, D.C. – The Obama Administration today introduced the first-ever proposed methane pollution standards for new and modified oil and gas facilities, a landmark announcement that will blunt the projected growth of methane and smog-forming pollution produced by the industry. The newly proposed standards will help to safeguard public health and put the United States closer to being on track to meet the Administration’s goal of reducing oil and gas methane pollution by 40 to 45 percent by 2025.
“These standards are an important step forward to protect public health and the climate. They are good for Idaho as it becomes an oil and gas producing state” stated Mary Sue Roach, Chair of the Weiser River Resource Council – a local chapter of IORC.
Methane pollution and toxic chemicals leaked and intentionally flared or vented during the oil and gas drilling and delivery process pose a threat to public health. Currently, air pollution levels near some oil and gas wells are competing with Houston for the nation’s dirtiest air. The oil and gas facilities emit methane pollution that mixes with the emissions from the industrial equipment to create record high smog levels. This toxic air pollution can cause serious health problems, including cancer, posing a risk to the workers and the nearby, often disadvantaged neighbors. The proposed standards will reduce these careless leaks and release of pollution and other chemicals that pose serious public health risks.
“The combination of reducing methane leaks from wells and infrastructure and having adequate setbacks from homes and water supplies is a very good step toward protecting our communities – especially those at risk populations such as children, seniors and persons with respiratory problems” continued Roach.
With methane pollution to blame for a quarter of man-made global warming, the proposed standards will also help the United States’ chart a course towards its goal of achieving overall emissions reductions of 20 to 25 percent by 2025. Pound for pound, methane gas traps more than 80 times as much heat on our planet in the short term than carbon dioxide does.
For years, the runaway oil and gas industry has been allowed to release millions of tons of methane and toxic chemicals into the air with little-to-no oversight. While the Obama Administration proposed new voluntary measures for oil and gas producers designed to reduce methane pollution, fewer than one percent of producers have participated in the EPA’s voluntary program to date. This has resulted in the waste of millions of tons of methane pollution that’s akin to a daily oil spill that can’t be seen. For example, the methane pollution emitted by facilities alone could heat more than 6 million homes each winter.
“The amount of waste is tremendous” said Roach. “These new rules are consistent with the state of Idaho’s policy to prevent waste and promote best practices.”
While the standards proposed by the Administration would cover new and modified facilities, existing oil and gas equipment would be exempt from the rule, thereby allowing operators to continue to pollute our air with methane and toxic chemicals.
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The Idaho Organization of Resource Councils (IORC) is a non-profit grassroots organization working to protect Idaho’s unique way of life by empowering citizens to improve the economic well-being of their communities by preserving family farms and ranches; supporting local, sustainable agriculture; developing small businesses and clean energy; and being responsible stewards of Idaho’s water, land, air, and natural resources.
For more information visit: www.IORCinfo.org
