Inhofe Statement on EPA's Announcement on Methane Regulations

Statement

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released a statement today in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of methane regulations on new and modified sources of oil and gas systems:

"There is no reason to impose regulations on our nation's oil and gas sector when the industry is already voluntarily reducing methane emissions. The fact remains that methane emissions from oil and gas systems are only a mere 3.5 percent of total domestic greenhouse gas emissions, yet this administration has undertaken at least five significant efforts aimed at punitively attacking this industry for a non-existent problem. Despite the president's war on fossil fuels, oil and gas production, primarily on private lands, has skyrocketed 26 percent while methane emissions have been reduced by more than 40 percent between 2006 and 2012. This was done without any federal mandate and the industry continues to voluntarily develop new technologies and practices to improve on this trend. These costly mandates will hinder economic growth and job creation for no meaningful environmental benefit. There is no need to target our domestic energy industry that has served a source of light during President Obama's anemic economic recovery. EPA's actions are politically driven, unnecessary, and geared solely toward getting these regulations out the door before President Obama leaves office."

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