Greens say EPA can cut methane emissions in half

Top environmental groups said it’s feasible for federal regulations to cut pollution from Earth-warming methane in half.

The groups’ recommendations target the oil and natural gas industries, the largest sources of emissions of methane, which is the main component of natural gas.

{mosads}The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Sierra Club and the Clean Air Task Force co-wrote the Thursday report, which other major environmental groups also reviewed and agree with.

They recommended that the Environmental Protection Agency issue some low-cost pollution control standards for oil and gas, such as leak detection and control equipment on wellpads, gas processing plants and compressors.

The groups also want older equipment replaced, among other advice.

While carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas, methane ranks second, and is more than 20 times more powerful as a warming agent.

“This is the most significant, most cost-effective thing the administration can do to tackle climate change pollution that it hasn’t already committed to do,” David Doniger, director of NRDC’s climate and air program, said in a statement.

“Along with cutting carbon pollution from power plants and vehicles, these practical steps are the one-two punch we need to stave off the worst effects of a disrupted climate,” he said.

The groups only released a summary of their work Thursday and said they’d release the full report later this fall.

The EPA is working on a plan to reduce methane emissions that could lead to new regulations on the oil and gas industries. EPA head Gina McCarthy said that plan will be unveiled this year.