EDF Will Challenge EPA Suspension of Key Health Protections Limiting Oil and Gas Pollution

(Washington, DC – May 31, 2017) Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has suspended key public health and environmental safeguards lifting clean air measures requiring oil and gas companies to reduce pollution from their facilities. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) will file a legal challenge to this dangerous and unprecedented action – EPA is suspending vital pollution limits for thousands of wells and compressor stations across the country enabling these industrial sources to discharge vast quantities of harmful methane, smog-forming, and other toxic pollution.
 
Today’s action suspends these requirements for 90-days, and EPA has sent an action to the Office of Management and Budget that indicates it plans to extend this suspension. 
 
Under clean air standards adopted in May 2016, companies would have been required to complete their first methane leak survey by June 3, 2017, the beginning of the nation’s summer ozone season, and to fix the leaks soon thereafter.
 
Last week, over 60 national, regional, state, and local organizations representing a wide range of constituents sent a letter to Pruitt, urging him not to suspend these critical clean air safeguards.

“This unprecedented and unlawful action by EPA Administrator Pruitt is an urgent threat to the health of families and communities across our nation. Finding and fixing dangerous leaks from the oil and gas industry is straightforward, cost-effective, and an urgently needed safeguard. Colorado, Wyoming, and Ohio, already have similar protections in place, which demonstrate the reasonableness of these clean air measures. Every day these vital protections are not in place is a day when the health and well-being of communities across the country is put at risk from dangerous air pollution.
 
“Once again, EPA Administrator Pruitt is putting the interests of the oil and gas industry ahead of the American public.”
 
                                 - Peter Zalzal, Lead Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund