Trump scraps methane leak rules to unlock oil

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his administration is ending the federal rule designed to limit methane emissions from oil and gas drilling. Speaking at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, the President stated that the move would eliminate what he described as expensive and unnecessary regulations imposed during the previous administration.

The policy shift targets rules established under the Biden administration that required companies to monitor and repair major methane leaks. Trump claimed the change would save consumers and energy producers $45 billion in costs and unlock 210 million barrels of oil. This volume of oil is equivalent to approximately 10 days of total U.S. petroleum consumption.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for roughly one-third of global warming emissions, according to scientific estimates. It is the primary component of natural gas and leaks from oil and gas equipment or is burned off as a waste product. The new administration plans to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency's Super Emitter Program, which mandated investigations into major releases. The agency will also adopt less restrictive standards for small oil and gas wells.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin previewed these changes last month. He argued that the previous rule would have cost the industry $18 billion and held back the U.S. energy sector. Zeldin said the new approach allows for more domestic drilling, a strategy Trump has emphasized as fuel prices rise during the war in Iran.

The Biden administration announced the original rule in 2023 during a U.N. climate conference in the United Arab Emirates. Federal officials projected the rule would prevent an estimated 58 million tons of methane emissions by 2038. It was also designed to reduce other pollutants that contribute to public health problems. The final rule was published in 2024, though the EPA granted an 18-month delay last year to help companies meet inspection requirements.

The previous regulation differed from earlier efforts by covering existing wells, not just new ones. It required operators to plug leaks from smaller wells that produce only 6% of the nation's oil and gas but account for up to half of all methane emissions from those fields. The rule was intended to coordinate with a methane fee approved in the 2022 climate law, which would have charged producers up to $1,500 per metric ton of excess emissions. Congress repealed that fee shortly after Trump took office.

Environmental groups have criticized the rollback, arguing it allows companies to continue releasing gas that could be captured for energy use. Fred Krupp, President of the Environmental Defense Fund, said the move gives companies a free pass at the expense of American consumers. He stated that the EPA should be fighting the waste rather than making it easier.

This action is part of a wider effort by Trump and Republicans to dismantle climate policies enacted under Biden. Recent moves include revoking a scientific finding central to greenhouse gas action, lowering vehicle fuel economy standards, and repealing emission restrictions for coal and natural gas power plants. The administration is scheduled to formally publish the termination of the rule in the coming weeks.