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Trump Plans to End Methane Curbs That Oil Companies Want to Keep

  • EPA plan would end oversight of methane leaks at oil wells
  • Move risks undermining climate sales pitch for natural gas
Chevron Corp. Jack/St. Malo Platform As Big Oil Rivals Shale In Gulf
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
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The Trump administration is readying a plan to end direct federal regulation of methane leaks from oil and gas facilities, even as some energy companies insist they don’t want the relief.

A draft proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency would prevent the federal government from directly targeting that potent greenhouse gas as it restricts emissions from oil wells and infrastructure, despite fears that time is running out to avert catastrophic consequences of climate change.