Methane Clips: November 2, 2023

 

Ahead of Methane Emission Fees, EPA Proposes New Reporting Rules for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry. According to JD Supra, “The Inflation Reduction Act (‘IRA’) requires the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (‘EPA’) to finalize new greenhouse gas reporting rules for the petroleum and natural gas industry based on ‘empirical emission data.’ Reported emissions will be subject to a methane fee effective January 1, 2025. The Result: Proposed rules drew sharp criticism for requiring reporting of ‘large emission events’ that potentially include relatively small releases and releases detected by third parties. Looking Ahead: EPA will finalize reporting rules by August 26, 2024 that will become effective January 1, 2025. The comment period closed on October 2, 2023, for regulations EPA published on August 1, 2023, proposing to amend the existing regulations requiring reporting of greenhouse gases (including methane) by the petroleum and natural gas industry. In addition to technical critiques, the proposed rule drew sharp criticism for requiring reporting of ‘other large release events’ and not utilizing ‘top-down’ monitoring as acceptable data for calculating emissions.” [JD Supra, 11/1/23 (=)]

 

More Than 50 Officials Call On The EPA To Help Local Governments Cut Food Waste In Their Communities. According to Salon, “On Tuesday, more than 50 local officials penned a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency to phase out food waste disposal in landfills by 2040 to cut emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane, Reuters reported. The letter came in the wake of two reports from the EPA that spotlights America’s food waste crisis and its detrimental environmental consequences. More than one-third of the food produced in the U.S. is never consumed. Much of that waste ends up in landfills, where it generates astounding amounts of toxic methane. Food waste causes 58% of the methane emissions that come from landfills, the EPA said in an Oct. 19 report that calculated those emissions for the first time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the EPA set a goal in 2015 to cut food waste in half by 2030. But very little progress has been made and the EPA has been criticized for ‘under-investing in the issue,’ Reuters said.” [Salon, 11/1/23 (=)]