"E.P.A. Methane Leak Rules Take Aim at Climate Change"

"WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Thursday unveiled the first federal regulations to control emissions of potent planet-warming methane gas that could leach from new oil and gas wells, the next step in President Obama’s effort to combat climate change.

The methane rules, the final version of draft regulations put forth last year by the Environmental Protection Agency, require oil and gas companies to plug and capture leaks of methane from new and modified drilling wells and storage tanks, not older, existing wells.

The E.P.A. estimates that the rules will cost companies around $530 million in 2025, but it also estimates that they will yield companies savings of as much as $690 million from reduced waste, a potential net benefit of $160 million. The agency said the regulations would lower methane emissions by 510,000 tons in 2025, the equivalent of 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide."

Coral Davenport reports for the New York Times May 12, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"U.S. Sets Rules To Cut Methane Emissions From Oil And Gas Wells" (Reuters)

"EPA Moves to Regulate Oil and Gas Methane Emissions" (Climate Central)

"EPA Starts Sprint To Curb Methane From Existing Producers" (Greenwire)

"EPA Begins Crackdown on Methane Emissions" (InsideClimate News)

"Obama's Methane Rule An Aggressive Step Toward Tackling Climate Change" (Guardian)