Groups to fight rollback of standards cutting wasteful flaring and leaking of methane
WORC statement on delay of Methane Waste Prevention rule
By Lisa Deville
Western Organization of Resource Councils
Censored News
MANDAREE, North Dakota - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it will file a proposal tomorrow to stall its Methane Waste Prevention rule until January 2019. The BLM Methane Waste Prevention rule requires oil and gas companies operating on federal and tribal lands to reduce preventable leaks and venting of methane, the primary component of natural gas.
In response to today’s announcement, Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) board member Lisa DeVille, who is directly affected by the unnecessary and harmful waste of methane on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, issued the following statement:
“The West deserves better than this! Today’s one year rule delay of the BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule is not only disappointing, it also shows that Secretary Zinke and the Trump Administration are more concerned with catering to the oil and gas industry than curbing wasteful methane emissions from oil and gas wells on federal leases. The BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule provides many benefits to communities in the West. These benefits include reduced emissions of harmful methane gas that impact air quality and climate, and increased revenues from royalties collected on captured gas. WORC and its groups throughout the West will continue to fight all efforts by Secretary Zinke and the Trump Administration to roll back the much needed protections provided by the BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule.”
Bureau of Land Management Delays Safeguards that Benefit Tribal Communities and Reduce Waste
Nicole Donaghy, nicole@drcinfo.com, 701-202-0927
Don Morrison, don@drcinfo.com, 701-224-8587
BISMARCK---The Bureau of Land Management has announced that they will delay the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule for 2 years. The Rule requires operators to stagger emissions from oil and gas operations by limiting flaring, venting, and requiring detection and repairs of leaks.
The Rule went into effect in January, but was halted in court by appeals of oil producing states like North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. The Rule also requires payments to mineral owners and taxpayers by operators who extract on tribal and public lands.
“The rule has not been updated for 30-plus years and Americans deserve better. People throughout the West facing the impacts of venting flaring daily deserve better. Secretary Zinke and the Trump administration want to suspend the very rule protecting western communities from methane pollution. Who benefits? Not our children,” said DRC Oil and Gas Task Force Chair, Linda Weiss
“Now is not the time to be playing politics with vital rules like the BLM’s Methane Rule that limits emissions from well pads on our lands. Citizens of Fort Berthold and people across North Dakota will continue to face serious impacts from methane flaring throughout the Bakken” said Lisa DeVille, President of grassroots group Fort Berthold Protectors of Water & Earth Rights (POWER), a local affiliate of DRC. “We deserve better leaders in Washington who will fight to reduce waste and keep them healthy, not leaders who choose to bend over backward to embolden the oil and gas industry at the cost of our health and environment.”
Bureau of Land Management Delays Safeguards that Benefit Tribal Communities and Reduce Waste
Nicole Donaghy, nicole@drcinfo.com, 701-202-0927
Don Morrison, don@drcinfo.com, 701-224-8587
BISMARCK---The Bureau of Land Management has announced that they will delay the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule for 2 years. The Rule requires operators to stagger emissions from oil and gas operations by limiting flaring, venting, and requiring detection and repairs of leaks.
The Rule went into effect in January, but was halted in court by appeals of oil producing states like North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado. The Rule also requires payments to mineral owners and taxpayers by operators who extract on tribal and public lands.
“The rule has not been updated for 30-plus years and Americans deserve better. People throughout the West facing the impacts of venting flaring daily deserve better. Secretary Zinke and the Trump administration want to suspend the very rule protecting western communities from methane pollution. Who benefits? Not our children,” said DRC Oil and Gas Task Force Chair, Linda Weiss
“Now is not the time to be playing politics with vital rules like the BLM’s Methane Rule that limits emissions from well pads on our lands. Citizens of Fort Berthold and people across North Dakota will continue to face serious impacts from methane flaring throughout the Bakken” said Lisa DeVille, President of grassroots group Fort Berthold Protectors of Water & Earth Rights (POWER), a local affiliate of DRC. “We deserve better leaders in Washington who will fight to reduce waste and keep them healthy, not leaders who choose to bend over backward to embolden the oil and gas industry at the cost of our health and environment.”
Dakota Resource Council is a community-based group, founded in 1978, bringing together farmers, ranchers, workers, small business owners and other North Dakotans to address issues that affect our lives and livelihoods.
1200 MISSOURI AVE STE 201
BISMARCK, ND 58504-5264
United States
mailto:u.4375.102553.c908da763164bc27@worc.civismtp.org
