Washington, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it was halting and reconsidering requirements that oil and gas companies detect and repair methane pollution leaks and use the least-polluting equipment at their drilling sites. Today, the Center for American Progress released an analysis of EPA data revealing the 50 oil and gas companies that reported the most methane pollution in 2015. These are the companies that have the most to gain from the EPA’s announcement—with ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, and Chesapeake Energy topping the list.
Methane is a potent global warming pollutant that is often mixed with other harmful pollutants, including cancer-causing chemicals. The EPA made this announcement on the same day that media reports indicated President Donald Trump will withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement.
“The Trump EPA’s decision is appalling, but it isn’t surprising. After all, President Trump hired an EPA administrator best known for raising millions of dollars from oil and gas companies and other polluters while serving as attorney general of Oklahoma,” said Alison Cassady, director of domestic energy and environment policy at CAP and author of the analysis. “Today, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt showed once again he is willing to do anything for the oil and gas industry but absolutely nothing for public health and the environment.”
CAP’s analysis also shows the regions of the country that will experience more air pollution as a result of today’s announcement, including EPA Administrator Pruitt’s home state of Oklahoma.
Click here to read “The Trump EPA Again Decided to Prioritize Oil Companies over Public Health” by Alison Cassady.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Allison Preiss at [email protected] or 202.478.6331.