Trump says he'll roll back Biden-era methane rules for oil and gas

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorPresident Trump says the EPA will roll back Biden-era methane rules for oil and gas companies, and he announced it at a rally in Lubbock, Texas.

2. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOkay, so what is methane, and why does it have its own rulebook?

3. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIt's the main ingredient in natural gas, and it's a potent greenhouse gas that contributes heavily to climate change.

4. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorNBC News reports the rules were aimed at curbing leaks.

5. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd the quote from the rally?

6. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHe said, quote, "Tonight, I'm officially terminating Biden's expensive and unnecessary methane regulations." That's from the Epoch Times.

7. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorTerminating. That's a strong verb for a rule that hasn't been formally proposed yet.

8. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorRight, and the EPA hasn't released the proposed rule.

9. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorEPA Administrator Lee Zeldin previewed the plan on October seventh at an oil and gas meeting in Santa Fe.

10. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWhat does it actually change?

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    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe EPA plans to end its Super Emitter Program, where outside groups reported leaks spotted by satellites or thermal imaging cameras.

12. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo the satellites keep looking. We just stop taking the call.

13. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorTrump says it would save consumers and producers forty-five billion dollars. So who gets that money, and where's the math?

14. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe math is in a forthcoming document. That's press-office for it exists in spirit.

15. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHe also said it would help produce an extra two hundred ten million barrels of oil. Same story: EPA hasn't released the analysis.

16. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWho's pushing for this?

17. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe National Stripper Well Association. It says compliance costs will make those low-producing wells too expensive to run.

18. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorStripper wells. Those are the small ones?

19. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorYes. Research suggests they make seven to eight percent of US natural gas but could account for about half the methane leaking out.

20. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHalf?

21. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat's what the research suggests. And the Environmental Defense Fund says the rollback means more wasted gas, more pollution and health risks for nearby communities.

22. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo one side says the rules cost too much to follow, and the other says the leaks cost more.

23. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorIt's a real argument about who pays.

24. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorNext, the EPA has to actually publish the proposed rule, and that's when we'd see the numbers behind the forty-five billion.

25. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo the short version: a rally made the announcement, the figure showed up before the details, and the rule itself hasn't been released yet.

26. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorI'd call that right on schedule, Vera. For a rally.