Washington, D.C. — Matt Lee-Ashley, Senior Fellow and Director of Public Lands at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s proposed rule to cut methane pollution from oil and gas development on public lands:
There is absolutely no reason that oil and gas companies should be able to freely waste hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer-owned resources without paying a dime. Requiring companies to plug leaks and set reasonable limits on the venting and flaring of natural gas are simple and effective first steps toward cutting waste and reducing the impacts of methane pollution on public health and the climate. The methane leak in California—now approaching its 90th day—is a somber reminder of the need tighten up leaky infrastructure across the country, require the use of basic pollution-control technologies, and better protect public health in nearby communities.
Related resources:
“Reducing Methane Pollution from Fossil-Fuel Production on America’s Public Lands” by Claire Moser, Nidhi Thakar, and Matt Lee-Ashley