Trump Proposes Rollback of Methane Rules

President Donald Trump announced at a Texas campaign rally that the EPA proposed rolling back Biden-era rules requiring oil and gas companies to monitor and reduce methane leaks. The proposed revisions would eliminate the Super Emitter Program and ease requirements for smaller, low-producing wells, which could also weaken oversight of methane leaks and gas flaring; they have not been finalized. The administration projects the changes would save the industry $45 billion and increase domestic oil and gas production, though the figures are not guaranteed. Industry supporters say the existing rules impose excessive costs on marginal-well operators, while environmental advocates warn that weaker oversight could increase methane pollution; marginal wells account for a disproportionate share of emissions, and methane is a potent greenhouse gas. The announcement came as Trump promoted higher energy output and lower fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections; the United States is the leading source of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.