"A federal court on Thursday struck down an Obama-era regulation targeting methane leaks from drilling on public lands, arguing that it went beyond the scope of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which promulgated the rule.
The 2016 rule required oil and gas companies to cut a practice called flaring, in which natural gas is burned, by half, inspect their sites for leaks and replace old equipment that released too much methane.
The court argued that although the rule’s stated purpose was to reduce waste, it was essentially used to regulate air quality, which is not the job of the BLM."
Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill October 8, 2020.
SEE ALSO:
"Court Nixes Obama Methane Rule for Oil, Gas on Public Lands" (Bloomberg Environment)
Source: The Hill, 10/09/2020
