Biden Wants Citizens to Police Oil Wells for Methane. Industry Leaders Are Pushing Back
- EPA seeks to empower third parties to search out methane leaks
- Oil industry leaders say it poses safety and security risks
A gas flare burns past a pump jack in Texas.
Photographer: Angus Mordant/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A Biden administration plan to empower private citizens to police oil wells and pipelines for methane leaks is being blasted by industry leaders who say it sets a dangerous precedent.
Under the Super-Emitter Response Program proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, individuals who have agency-approved expertise and equipment would be authorized to monitor oil industry operations for emissions of the potent greenhouse gas and notify companies of any high-volume leaks. Operators would have five days to analyze any credible third-party methane reports and 10 days to fix most leaks.