Washington Watch: Methane Rule Saved

Environmental and climate advocates were thrilled last week by their surprise win in the U.S. Senate over saving one of the key Obama Administration environmental rules.

By a vote of 51 to 49, the Senate blocked legislation to repeal the Interior Department rule restricting methane emissions from drilling operations on public lands. This was the first time the current Senate has blocked a resolution to repeal a rule under the Congressional Review Act since Trump took office. Thirteen other Obama-era rules had been knocked down before that.

The methane rule is considered an important step in efforts to address climate change. Methane is a “greenhouse gas” with vastly more intense impact, ton for ton, than carbon dioxide. Three Republican Senators joined all 48 Democrats in upholding the rule. Unfortunately, both of North Carolina’s Senators (Richard Burr and Thom Tillis) voted to repeal the methane control rule, indicating that they still need educating on the necessity of addressing climate change instead of obeying the dictates of Big Oil.

With the effort to legislatively repeal the rule unexpectedly blocked, the Trump Administration announced its intent to begin the longer process of junking the rule administratively. However, that process takes years and includes multiple opportunities for environmental advocates to contest it.

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