Biden proposes more limits to drilling on public lands
President Joe Biden's administration on Monday proposed rules aimed at limiting methane leaks from oil and gas drilling on public lands, Washington's latest move to crack down on emissions of the potent greenhouse gas.
The proposal complements new rules the U.S. government already proposed for the industry on private lands. It would place monthly limits on flaring and require oil and gas companies to undertake methane leak detection programs for operations on federal lands, where nearly a tenth of U.S. oil and natural gas production takes place, primarily in Western states.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said the rules would help prevent gas from being wasted and boost tax-payer returns.
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The Interior Department said venting and flaring activity from production on public lands has significantly increased over several decades.
Flaring, or deliberately burning gas produced as a byproduct to oil, releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, while venting releases unburned methane. Oil drillers tend to flare or vent gas when they lack pipelines to move it to market, or when prices are too low to make transporting it worthwhile.
The proposed rule would require each applicant for a drilling permit to submit a plan detailing how it would minimize methane waste. BLM could hold up the permit application if it finds the plan inadequate.
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Not mentioned is that the administration also opposes new pipelines so this would further reduce the availability of oil and gas and drive up the price.
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