Comment period for public comment on Methane Rule end December 17, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. (eastern). Supported by UUMFE and Unitarian Universsalists for Social Justice (UUSJ).

Submit public comment on rollback on Methane Rule – voice your concerns on the open regulatory issue: Methane Rule rollback by December 17, 2018 by 11:59 pm ET. Click HERE to go to regulations.gov for details and the proposed rule summary, and click HERE to go to the online comment form. Comments should be your own. However, you can draw on these talking points, but put them in your own words:

• A recent study published in the journal Science found that the US oil and gas industry emits 13 million metric tons of methane from its operations each year—nearly 60 percent more than currently estimated by the EPA.
• The EPA standards in place right now will reduce emissions from over 36,000 wells all around the country, including cutting 21,635 tons of methane, around 6,000 tons of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and 450,000 pounds of toxic air pollutants, each year.
• EPA must continue to require operators to use proven, cost-effective technologies and practices to prevent harmful air pollution from oil and gas sites instead of putting polluter profits ahead of the health of our families and future generations.
• Methane poses a grave danger to our planet. It has over 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide, making it a significant driver of climate change.
• Industry is already committed to reducing emissions. In May, ExxonMobil committed to reducing methane emissions by 15 percent and flaring by 25 percent by 2020. A subsidiary announced an enhanced leak detection and repair program.

[Photo courtesy Las Cruces Sun News]