Time to cut natural gas waste on federal lands

Each year on federal lands across the country, millions of dollars of revenue is literally released up into the air, robbing taxpayers of income generated by oil and gas royalties on public lands and from tribal governments on tribal lands.

Because methane (the primary component of natural gas) is wasted through venting and flaring and from leaky equipment at oil and gas operations, Americans are losing a valuable public resource. That’s irresponsible development.

{mosads}It’s time we address these wasteful practices and work to ensure oil and gas operators act responsibly when developing energy resources on America’s public lands. Fortunately, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing new guidelines to prevent this unnecessary waste of our public resource.

ICF International estimates that over $330 million in taxpayer revenue was lost through venting, flaring, and leaks in 2013 alone. This wasted methane could power 1.5 million homes. These valuable dollars from oil and gas development on federal lands could be used towards education, infrastructure, or countless other ways that could have benefitted the average citizen.

Not only are the fiscal effects of this waste obvious, but the health and environmental effects are increasingly alarming. In 2014, NASA found a methane plume the size of Delaware hovering over the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. Furthermore, several basins across the country, such as the San Juan in New Mexico and the Upper Green River in Wyoming face similar air pollution problems to major cities such as Los Angeles due in large part to drilling on public and tribal lands.

And at 80 times more harmful than carbon dioxide, methane’s damaging effects to our climate are simply too big to ignore.

To address this misuse of our natural resources, we applaud the White House and the BLM for moving forward a proposed methane waste rule for public and tribal lands. This rule should be strong to reduce wasteful practices such as venting and flaring of methane, along with requiring quarterly inspections and repair of leaks for production equipment.

There’s overwhelming support for the BLM to take action. A bipartisan January 2016 poll by Colorado College found that 80 percent of westerners support tough action to cut methane waste on public lands, including residents in energy-producing states.

Opponents to efforts to curb methane waste suggest the economic impacts of implementing methane-reduction measures might be too high. However, ICF International found that by reducing methane waste by 40 percent, oil and gas companies would pay less than a penny per thousand cubic feet of natural gas produced. And in many instances, companies will actually make money by ensuring natural gas is brought to market that would otherwise be wasted.

What’s made these reductions possible is good, old-fashioned American innovation and ingenuity. Start-up companies across the nation have stepped up to identify methane waste and help the oil and gas industry become more efficient.

These entrepreneurs are creating good-paying, American jobs. The economic benefits of methane emission reduction are catching the attention of states throughout the West. Colorado became the first state in the nation to adopt rules to cut methane waste and is now a model of success. After the new Colorado rules to reduce methane waste were adopted, natural gas production actually increased. Other states are taking notice, with Wyoming and North Dakota taking steps to reduce waste and pollution. However, there are many states throughout the country who are not taking the appropriate measures to cut methane emissions and waste.

As stewards for the American taxpayer, the BLM has the obligation and authority, given to it by Congress, to ensure a fair return for publicly owned oil and gas minerals. The BLM should also help create a level playing field for oil and gas operators that sets a strong and achievable standard for cutting methane waste.

States have proven that cutting methane waste is achievable. Now the federal government is right to step forward with standards that protect our lands, our health, and tax dollars.

Abbey was the director of the BLM from 2009 to 2012. Dombeck was the director of the BLM from 1994 to 1996 and chief of the U.S. Forest Service from 1996 to 2001.