EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces oil and gas emission rollbacks

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced plans to roll back Biden-era oil and gas emission regulations, specifically targeting the 2024 Methane Rule and the “super emitter” program. During a visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Zeldin stated that the changes aim to remove “unnecessary burdens” on energy producers to help Americans manage heating and fuel costs.

The proposed rollbacks include the elimination of the super emitter program, which was designed to identify and investigate large methane leaks near oil and gas facilities. The administration is expected to formally propose the removal of this program within days.

Environmental advocacy groups, including the Sierra Club and the Environmental Defense Fund, have protested the move. Critics argue the rollbacks will increase environmental damage and undermine public health. In Pennsylvania, the Clean Air Council warned that the reconsideration of methane standards threatens the well-being of residents living near active oil and gas infrastructure.