BLM Finalizes Methane Regulations for Public Lands, Aiming to Curb Pollution Amid Congressional Review Act Pressure

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published its final methane regulations for public lands drilling, which could have been vulnerable to Republican attacks. The rule, which will charge royalties on wasted gas and reduce the amount of gas released or burned off, was released by the Interior Department in late March but had not been published in the Federal Register until Wednesday. This move is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to reduce methane pollution in the oil and gas sector. EPA has also developed new rules to curb methane pollution from the nation’s oil and natural gas activities. The White House and federal agencies are under pressure to complete pending regulations by the end of April to avoid potential repeal under the Congressional Review Act.