President Donald Trump announced plans on October 27 to weaken US methane controls for oil and gas operations, presenting the change at a Texas rally as relief for producers and consumers. Reuters described an Environmental Protection Agency proposal; the announcement does not establish that a final replacement rule is already in force.
According to Reuters, citing a White House official, the plan would ease requirements for small, low-output wells and end a program using outside groups to report major methane leaks. It would also relax provisions aimed at ending routine gas flaring at oil wells. The Biden-era rules required leak repairs and regular inspections.
The environmental stakes extend beyond individual drilling sites. EPA identifies oil and natural gas operations as the largest industrial source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and smog-forming volatile organic compounds. California officials say methane persists for about a decade, making reductions important for limiting near-term warming.
At the rally, Trump claimed the changes would save consumers and energy producers $45 billion, the Associated Press reported. That is an administration claim, not a measured saving. Reuters placed the announcement amid efforts to address high gasoline prices before the midterm elections and pressure linked to the Iran war.
Environmental Defense Fund president Fred Krupp argued that weaker protections would reward operators unwilling to prevent waste and leave consumers worse off. In an October 27 statement, the group said many major oil and gas companies had already committed to substantial methane reductions. Its criticism challenges the administration's cost-saving argument.
California offered a contrasting response. Governor Gavin Newsom's office said its satellite program had helped resolve 50 major leaks, including 20 at oil and gas facilities and 30 at landfills. It highlighted the recent launch of Tanager-2 to expand monitoring. State air officials said California's methane regulations remain in place despite the federal rollback plans.
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