WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senate Republicans rejected a Congressional Review Act resolution introduced by Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) that would have stopped the Trump administration from delaying the implementation of critical methane pollution standards. The courts, including the United States Supreme Court, have previously stopped other efforts by industry polluters and their political allies to block the EPA's methane standards.

The Environmental Protection Agency's critical Clean Air Act protections against methane and other harmful pollution from the oil and gas industry were finalized in December 2023following a robust comment period. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has 80 times the warming impact of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years after its release. The delayed safeguards include the first-ever standards for existing equipment while also strengthening standards for new equipment, a major win for climate and public health.

The EPA itself estimatesthat delaying the implementation of standards for existing sources for 12 months is likely to result in 1.3 million tons of methane pollution, 970,000 tons of smog-forming volatile organic compounds emissions and 36,000 tons of hazardous air pollutants, including known carcinogens, that otherwise would have been prevented.

In response, Sierra Club issued the following statements:

Mahyar Sorour, Sierra Club's Director of Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy: "Senate Republicans have squandered an opportunity to protect our climate, the health of our families and communities, and the wealth of jobs that are created when oil and gas companies are required to reduce their harmful emissions. This CRA would have stopped the Trump administration's dangerous and chaotic plan to delay critical methane pollution standards. Over the course of many years, these standards were thoughtfully designed with industry input, and many oil and gas companies actually support these efforts to cut dangerous methane pollution. Allowing this delay to stay in place will only benefit bad actors and jeopardize the health of millions of people, especially those living closest to oil and gas infrastructure. While this resolution may not have passed, Sierra Club and its allies will continue to fight this baseless delay through litigation that is now pending in court."

Antoinette Reyes with Sierra Club's Rio Grande Chapter (NM & West TX): "New Mexico families are paying the price for Texas' refusal to regulate its oil and gas industry. Our state has done the hard work of passing strong methane rules, yet pollution from across the border continues to blow into our communities. Senate Republicans sided with bad actors and left New Mexicans exposed to more toxic emissions that increase asthma, cancer risk, and climate damage. We're grateful for Senators Heinrich and Luján who continue to fight for strong federal methane safeguards."

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.