Tuesday, October 8, 2024

High Court rules to allow the EPA’s Methane and Mercury regulations to stand!

Happy Tuesday! 

Well, we blogged about the EPA’s impending Methane Rules, and it made the News again last week. 

Did anyone see The Houston Chronicle’s Business Section on October 5, 2024, they reprinted an article from the Associated Press titled, “Justices leave 2 Biden rules in place – Environmental regulations aimed at reducing methane and mercury are kept by high court”?  In the article, it speaks on how on Friday the U.S. Supreme Court left the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) methane and mercury rules on the books, and there were no dissents.  The Methane Rule turns the heat up on the oil and gas industry in particular current and new oil and gas wells, and the gases which escape by leaks.  The rule requires the company to replace or repair the equipment involved in the leak and to inspect regularly or a Methane Fee will be imposed on the company (See our Blog in December 2023 for details.).   The EPA rules will phase out flaring which is a standard practice to rid of natural gas from wells.  The two rules will have implications on the oil and gas industry no matter the size of the company! 

The high court ruled on another EPA regulation which involved mercury and other unsafe emissions from power plants which may cause problems to the public’s health; they allowed the rule to go into effect.   The high court still has to rule on a third EPA rule regarding greenhouse gases from coal-fired power plants.  We hope these new rules help improve the public’s health and help us attain our goals of reducing greenhouse gases!  If we hear anything else on these topics, we will surely post any new pertinent information.  If you would like to read more of Associated Press’ article for free on Microsoft Start, please click the link: Supreme Court leaves in place two Biden environmental regulations (msn.com).

If you would like to see some suggested equipment from the EPA to reduce emissions, please click the link: Methane Mitigation Technologies Platform | US EPA.

If you would like help in looking into how to clean up your emissions and pollutants in your terminal or pipeline to comply with the new rules or see what’s beneath your feet to help your emissions, contact us via the email in the blog and check out our ESC's website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great week! 

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the Associated Press’ article. **