New Mexico Proposes Crackdown on Methane Emissions
(Reuters) — New Mexico this week proposed rules that would require its oil and gas industry to capture at least 98% of its emissions of methane by 2026, a standard it said would be among the strongest in the nation.
The proposal, announced by state officials on Monday after consultations with industry, would impact drillers in New Mexico’s portion of the Permian Basin oil hub where production has surged in recent years.
“The draft rules lay out an achievable but ambitious timeline and leaves room for innovation in the oil and gas industry, incorporating key feedback received throughout the process,” said New Mexico Oil Conservation Division Director Adrienne Sandoval.
Other states have also implemented plans to cut methane emissions, including Colorado and Pennsylvania. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has reversed Obama-era regulations seeking to slash the emissions, calling them unnecessary and harmful to development.
Environmental groups welcomed the New Mexico proposal.
"Governor Lujan Grisham’s proposal is a critical step but loopholes for low producing wells must be closed to ensure we meet her commitment to create nation-leading methane waste and pollution rules,” said Barbara Webber, executive director of advocacy group Health Action New Mexico.
The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association did not say if it supported the proposals but said its members will continue providing technical expertise to the state.
New Mexico is seeking public comment on the proposal before finalizing it.
Related News
Related News
- Case Study: Starling Pipe-in-Pipe Project Copes with Stresses of S-Lay Pipelaying
- Enterprise Abandons Texas Pipeline Project as Oil Prices Remain Weak
- 2020 Midyear International Outlook: Pipeline Construction & Market Trends
- Gas Pipeline Explodes Near Oklahoma City
- TC Energy Announces $400 Million ANR Pipeline Enhancement Project
- Case Study: Starling Pipe-in-Pipe Project Copes with Stresses of S-Lay Pipelaying
- Gas Pipeline Explodes Near Oklahoma City
- Norway to Spend $1.8 Billion on World's First Full-Scale CCS Chain
- Federal Judge Allows North Dakota to Pursue Protest Reimbursements
- Argentina Pitches Pipeline to Brazil for Vaca Muerta Shale Gas
Comments