Congress restores Obama-era methane emissions standards
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Congress moved to restore environmental regulations to limit methane emissions, reversing a Trump-era rollback, with a 229-191 House vote on Friday, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The decision from the House followed an earlier 52-42 vote by the Senate to reverse the rollback. President Biden is expected to sign the measure, bringing him one step closer to reaching his goal of cutting U.S. emissions from their 2005 level in half within the decade.
The Trump-era rollback eased 2016 Obama-era methane emission restrictions, which included excluding transmission and storage facilities from limits and cutting compliance measures.
Learn more: The Wall Street Journal > Congress restores pre-Trump era methane-gas emissions standards
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.