Carper Statement on Latest EPA Proposal to Reign in Methane Emissions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today released the following statement on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s proposal to strengthen methane emissions standards and improve the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for Ground Level Ozone.

“True to President Biden’s promise in Glasgow this week, his administration and Congress are working overtime to act on climate and protect human health,” said Senator Carper. “Earlier this year, we rejected the previous administration’s misguided rollback of methane emissions standards. In doing so, we cleared a path for EPA to implement protections for hazardous climate pollutants like methane and ozone. I’m pleased by the leadership at EPA following sound science and working expeditiously to finalize these proposed rules today.

“In addition to demonstrating the U.S. commitment to leading by example on climate, these proposals represent real progress in protecting Americans access to clean air. But our work doesn’t stop here. We must also pass a commonsense charge on excess methane pollution as part of the Build Back Better Act. Our program is complementary to EPA’s rule and a critical part of meeting the president’s climate goals.”