David J. Hayes Comments on Interior’s Rollback of Gas Venting and Flaring Rule
David J. Hayes released the following statement in response to the release of DOI’s final Methane Waste Prevention or Venting and Flaring rule
September 18, 2018
Washington, DC – David J. Hayes, Executive Director of the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law and former Interior Deputy Secretary in the Obama and Clinton Administrations, released the following statement in response to the release of the Interior Department’s final Methane Waste Prevention or Venting and Flaring rule:
“Today’s Interior Department announcement that it will not restrict, or require public compensation for, wasteful venting and flaring of valuable natural gas produced during oil and gas production is a shocking abdication of the Secretary’s fundamental fiscal and environmental stewardship responsibilities over our public lands. The final rule fails to forthrightly address the environmental and fiscal significance of the issue to federal and state authorities; the relatively minor costs of compliance; and the major climate and health-related environmental benefits associated with common sense restrictions on venting and flaring activities.
When put alongside EPA’s recent proposal to scale back restrictions on oil and gas methane leakage, it is clear that the Administration is highly motivated to reduce or, preferably, eliminate environmental compliance costs incurred by the oil and gas industry, no matter how small, and regardless of the adverse impacts on public health, our public lands, and our planet.
Led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, state attorneys general prevailed in the courts against earlier efforts to roll back common-sense regulation of wasteful and environmentally damaging venting and flaring from oil and gas operations on public lands. They will suit up their armor and be back in the federal courts again.”
###
About the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center:
The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan academic center at NYU School of Law. The Center is dedicated to working towards a healthy and safe environment, guided by inclusive and equitable principles. The Center studies and supports the work of state attorneys general (AGs) in defending, enforcing, and promoting strong laws and policies in the areas of climate, environmental justice, environmental protection, and clean energy.