Methane is a greenhouse gas, emitted both by natural sources and from human activity. Methane is also the largest component of natural gas, the product that companies sell. Operators have every incentive to capture and sell as much of this product as possible to American consumers, rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere. And independent oil and natural gas producers have made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint by cutting emissions without raising energy costs.
In fact, the United States leads the world in the reduction of carbon emissions, even as the production of U.S. oil and natural gas continues to increase. Our success in lowering carbon emissions in the United States is not because of additional regulations, but because of the increased use of clean-burning natural gas.
Check out IPAA’s latest fact sheets, EPA Methane Regulation and Low Production Wells and Natural Gas & Oil Production Methane Emissions Management.
IPAA endorses The Environmental Partnership, a voluntary program comprised of companies in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry committed to continuously improving the industry’s environmental performance. It includes companies of all sizes, including many of the country’s major oil and natural gas producers. Learn more about the program at www.theenvironmentalpartnership.org.
Fact Sheets
- IPAA does not question the need to cost effectively manage industry emissions.
- Independent producers recognize the importance of environmentally sound regulations to manage their emissions.
- IPAA supports voluntary efforts by industry to reduce methane emissions, like the Environmental Partnership. Our members are making constant improvements to the technology being used in the field to reduce, measure and report on emissions.
- Natural Gas and Oil production methane emissions are 1.2 percent
of the 2017 GHGI. - Federal and state regulations manage natural gas and oil production methane emissions; states are the primary regulators.
- Methane emissions have decreased while natural gas and oil production
has increased substantially.
According to the latest U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Inventory, methane emissions from oil and natural gas systems have decreased 19 percent since 1990 (249 million metric tons to 202 mmt) at the same time natural gas production has increased 52 percent and oil production has increased 28 percent. Read more…
The latest U.S. government data show greenhouse gas emissions continuing to decline thanks to increased use of clean-burning natural gas. Read more…
Recent Press Releases
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IPAA Recommends More Flexibility and Cost Effectiveness in EPA Methane Regulations
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31 January, 2022 -
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Joint Trades Letter Opposing the Methane Fee in House Energy & Commerce Committee
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12 September, 2021
Correspondence
- Jul 2, 2018
Comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on its Draft Audit Policy Agreement for New Owners of Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Facilities - May 8, 2018
Multi-Association Comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on its Notice of Proposed Withdrawal of the Control Techniques Guidelines for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry - Apr 23, 2018
Western Energy Alliance and IPAA Joint Comments to the Bureau of Land Management on its 2018 Proposed Revision to the Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation Rule - Dec 8, 2017
IPAA and Cooperating Associations Comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on its Proposed Rule and Notice of Data Availability for Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Oil and Natural Gas Sources - Nov 6, 2017
Western Energy Alliance, IPAA Joint Comments to the Bureau of Land Management on the Proposed Stay of its 2016 Waste Prevention (Venting and Flaring) Rule - Oct 27, 2017
Western Energy Alliance, IPAA Memorandum to the U.S. District Court in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction on the BLM Methane (Venting and Flaring) Rule - Oct 2, 2017
Western Energy Alliance, IPAA Court Petition for Review of Final Agency Action by BLM on its Methane (Venting and Flaring) Rule - Aug 10, 2017
Independent Producers Comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on its Proposed Two-Year Stay of its Methane Rule for the Oil and Natural Gas Sector - Jul 20, 2017
Comments to the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General on its Review of EPA’s Estimate of Methane Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Production - May 15, 2017
Comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on the Implementation of Executive Order 13777, Evaluating Existing Regulations - Apr 4, 2017
Letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on the Bureau of Land Management Rule on Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation (Venting and Flaring) - Mar 31, 2017
Multi-Association Comments to the Department of Commerce on the Impact of Federal Regulations on Domestic Manufacturing - Jan 25, 2017
Letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan Supporting Use of the Congressional Review Act to Overturn the Bureau of Land Management Waste Production and Resource Conservation Rule (Methane Venting and Flaring Rule) - Nov 23, 2016
Western Energy Alliance, IPAA Memorandum to the U.S. District Court in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction on the BLM Methane (Venting and Flaring) Rule - Nov 15, 2016
Western Energy Alliance, IPAA U.S. District Court Petition for Review of Final Agency Action on the BLM Venting and Flaring Rule
- Oct 31, 2016
Independent Producer Trade Associations Joint Comments to the Office of Management and Budget on the EPA’s Information Collection Request for Oil and Gas Facilities - Aug 2, 2016
IPAA, Independent Producer Trade Associations Petition for Review to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on the EPA’s Final Rule on Methane Emissions for the Oil and Gas Sector - Aug 2, 2016
IPAA, Independent Trade Groups Joint Letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Requesting Administrative Reconsideration of its Final Rule on Methane Emissions for the Oil and Gas Sector - Aug 2, 2016
IPAA, AXPC Joint Comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on its Proposed Information Collection Request for Oil and Gas Facilities - Jun 22, 2016
IPAA Letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation Requesting Comment Extension on its Proposed Information Collection Request for Oil and Gas Facilities - Apr 22, 2016
IPAA, Trade Associations Joint Comments on the Bureau of Land Management Proposed Venting and Flaring Rule - Dec 4, 2015
IPAA and AXPC Joint Comments to the Environmental Protection Agency for Three Oil and Natural Gas Regulatory Proposals - Dec 1, 2014
IPAA comments to EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan - Dec 1, 2014
Partnership for a Better Energy Future: Carbon Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources - Sep 18, 2014
IPAA, AXPC Comments on the EPA Rulemaking Under Toxic Substances Control Act for Hydraulic Fracturing Chemicals - Aug 18, 2014
Independent Producers Second Rulemaking Comments - May 28, 2014
IPAA Comments on proposed revisions to Quad O storage vessel regulations - Jun 16, 2014
IPAA, WEA Submit Comments on the Methane and VOC Emissions in the Oil, Gas Sector per the Climate Action Plan Strategy - May 30, 2014
Comments of IPAA on Bureau of Land Management Venting & Flaring Public Outreach - May 9, 2014
Comments on EPA’s “Standards of Performance for GHG Emissions from Stationary Sources: Electric Generating Units; Proposed Rule” - May 9, 2014
The Partnership for a Better Energy Future Submits Comments to EPA in Response to Its Proposed Greenhouse Gas Rule for New Power Plants - Feb 26, 2014
Multi-Industry Coalition Submits Comments to the Office of Management and Budget Regarding the Social Cost of Carbon - Oct 7, 2013
Comments on EPA’s Delisting of Coalbed Methane Extraction from the Effluent Guidelines Plan - May 28, 2013
Comments on EPA’s Proposed Revisions to OOOO Storage Vessel Regulations