Health, Environmental, and Tribal Groups Applaud Order Denying Industry Efforts to Halt BLM Methane Waste Rule Implementation

Sixteen national, regional, tribal and local public health and
environmental groups representing millions of Americans applaud a decision issued yesterday by Wyoming federal judge Scott W. Skavdahl rejecting industry and state efforts to halt implementation of an updated common-sense U.S. Bureau of Land Management methane rule that will reduce natural gas waste on public and tribal lands, protect public health, and guard against climate change.

Two oil and gas industry groups challenged the rule in Wyoming federal court within 40 minutes of its release on Nov. 15, 2016. Soon thereafter, the states of Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota also challenged the rule. Later that month, the industry groups and states asked the court to impose a preliminary injunction to halt implementation of the rule. Yesterday afternoon, Judge Skavdahl denied that preliminary injunction.

The rule is projected to reduce the $330 million of taxpayer and tribal owned natural gas currently wasted annually, saving and putting to productive use enough natural gas to supply nearly 740,000 homes for a year. This captured gas will increase royalties used to support public education and other public services. Because methane, the main component of natural gas, is a climate pollutant over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, reducing methane waste also safeguards our climate. The rule will also result in reduced pollution and unsightly and noisy flares in the communities closest to oil and gas drilling operations. All these benefits are secured through sensible standards that harness the power of available, low-cost technologies and practices that are already being deployed by some states and industry members. Notably, two major oil and gas producing states, New Mexico and California, have intervened to defend BLM’s rule alongside the public health and environmental groups.

“The fight to defend BLM’s methane waste rule is just beginning, but this is a welcome development and confirms that precipitous action to halt the rule is not warranted,” said Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, executive director of the Western Environmental Law Center. “Ultimately, BLM has an obligation to ensure that oil and gas companies minimize the waste of public resources like methane. These rules do just that, establishing modernized standards to produce more energy, increase government royalties, and benefit communities and industry alike.”

“It is imperative for those of us who live within the four corners region of the U.S. to see the methane rule remain intact because we are the people who suffer the health and environmental disparities caused by excessive methane emissions in our predominantly Navajo region,” said Carol Davis of Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment.

“Wyoming lost out on more than $60 million in royalties over the last five years due to venting, flaring and leaks on federal lands, according to estimates compiled by the Western Values Project,” said Chris Merrill, associate director of the Wyoming Outdoor Council. “This is the state’s share of an overall $120 million in foregone federal royalties in Wyoming during that time period. Reducing waste will ensure Wyoming gets its fair share of royalties and severance taxes. We rely on those funds for our schools and other essential services. We can’t allow so much of it to be wasted.”

The groups defending the methane rule include :

Center for Biological Diversity, Citizens for a Healthy Community, Diné Citizens Against Ruining our Environment, Montana Environmental Information Center, National Wildlife Federation, San Juan Citizens Alliance, WildEarth Guardians, Wilderness Workshop, Earthworks, and Wyoming Outdoor Council – represented by Laura King, Shiloh Hernandez, and Erik Schlenker-Goodrich of the Western Environmental Law Center, with Darin Schroeder and Ann Weeks of Clean Air Task Force also representing National Wildlife Federation

Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, and Western Organization of Resource Councils – represented by Robin Cooley, Mike Freeman, and Joel Minor of Earthjustice.

Environmental Defense Fund – represented by Susannah Weaver of Donahue & Goldberg.

Environmental Law & Policy Center – represented by Jennifer Cassel and Rachel Granneman. Lisa McGee of Wyoming Outdoor Council serves as local counsel for the coalition.

Contacts:

Laura King, Western Environmental Law Center, 406-204-4852, gro.w1732230868alnre1732230868tsew@1732230868gnik1732230868

Carol Davis, Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment, 928-221-7859, moc.l1732230868iamg@17322308684002.1732230868sivad1732230868jlora1732230868c1732230868

Chris Merrill, Wyoming Outdoor Council, 307-349-7288, gro.l1732230868icnuo1732230868crood1732230868tuogn1732230868imoyw1732230868@sirh1732230868c1732230868

A copy of the order denying the preliminary injunction is available here.