Sawt Falasteen - US finalizes waste methane fine on drillers, but future uncertain

The Environmental Protection Agency's announcement coincides with the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan, where the United States' position has been weakened by the election victory of Trump, a climate change denier who has promised to withdraw from the landmark Paris Agreement once more.

"Super pollutant" methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping around 28 times as much heat as the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide over a hundred-year period.

Biden's administration made curbing methane a key priority both through domestic actions and international diplomacy, launching the Global Methane Pledge along with the EU in 2021 and engaging bilaterally with China on reduction efforts.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan hailed the rule, saying it would "improve efficiency in the oil and gas sector, support American jobs, protect clean air, and reinforce US leadership on the global stage."

It will not, however, take effect until it is published in the Federal Register -- a process that could take weeks.

Trump will be inaugurated as president in January and his EPA chief, whom he has named as former congressman Lee Zeldin, could review or rescind the measure.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) responded swiftly.

"This rule hampers our ability to meet the growing energy needs of American families and businesses and fails to advance meaningful emissions reduction," said API's Dustin Meyers, adding "we look forward to working with the incoming administration and new Congress to get this right."

Under the rule, certain high-emitting oil and gas drillers would be liable for penalties starting at $900 for every metric ton of wasteful methane emissions.

These charges would increase year-on-year until 2026, as mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden's signature climate law that was narrowly passed in 2022 by a Congress controlled by his party. Trump has vowed to dismantle the law.

With Republicans likely to control Congress, repeal of the law is a possibility, though analysts predict weakening it is more likely.

Methane emissions from oil and gas drilling occur through various means, including unintentional equipment leaks, deliberate venting to relieve pressure, and flaring.

Flaring is intended to convert excess methane to carbon dioxide, but the process is often incomplete, resulting in further methane release.

A.Suleiman--SF-PST