White House Releases Methane Strategy; Highlights MJB&A's Downstream Initiative

On January 14, 2015, the Obama Administration established a goal to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 – 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025.  The Administration announced a series of regulatory and voluntary steps to achieve this goal.  In the summer of 2015, EPA will propose a 111(b) rule to set standards for methane and VOC emissions from new and modified oil and gas production sources and natural gas processing and transmission sources.  Also, in the summer of 2015 EPA will propose Control Techniques Guidelines (CTGs) for existing oil and gas sources as states develop plans to reduce emissions in ozone nonattainment areas.  EPA will also launch a new voluntary emission reduction partnership in 2015 working with DOE, DOT, and leading companies, individually and through broader initiatives.  The Administrated highlighted the MJB&A-administered Downstream Initiative as an example of a leading industry initiative.  More information is available here.

A statement on behalf of the Downstream Natural Gas Initiative is available here.