Attorney General Nessel joins oil and gas methane rule coalition

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a multistate coalition of Attorney’s General to defend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Oil and Gas Methane Rule.

Methane is the biggest component of natural gas and large quantities of it are released into the atmosphere during oil and gas production.

Methane is also a greenhouse gas, which is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The new rule from the EPA would double down on those emissions.

The new rules will include the requirements that oil and gas facilities routinely monitor for methane leaks, and set guidelines for emissions standards.

“Emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change, must be reduced if we are to protect the environment and the public health,” said Nessel.

“The Environmental Protection Agency’s Final Rule is vital in safeguarding our natural resources and combatting the harmful effects of methane emissions. I proudly stand with my colleagues in supporting this important regulation to ensure that our air remains clean and safe for all.”

California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.–attorney generals have joined the coalition.

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