EPA to roll back Obama-era methane regulations for pipelines
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to roll back Obama-era regulations on methane monitoring and reporting for natural gas pipelines, sources in the EPA told the Wall Street Journal on Monday.
One of the effect of the changes is that companies will no longer be required to implement systems and processes to find leaks in methane pipelines. The EPA also plans to ease oversight and reporting requirements currently required on most methane pipelines.
Monitoring requirements for non-methane pollutants will remain in place.
Learn more: IBT > EPA to roll back methane monitoring for natural gas pipelines, report says
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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.