New EPA standards aim to significantly reduce methane emissions from U.S. oil and gas operations.

New federal standards will regulate methane from more U.S. oil and gas operations than ever before, according to EPA Administrator Michael Regan. The standards, which cover petroleum infrastructure built prior to 2015, aim to deeply reduce methane emissions by requiring equipment upgrades and regular leak inspections. The changes were made in response to concerns raised by states, industry, and environmentalists. The final rule includes giving producers more time to phase in controls and giving EPA a larger role in vetting third-party monitoring of major leaks at petroleum facilities. It also tightens limits on whether producers can burn off associated gas at oil wells. The rule also requires producers to regularly monitor for leaks and fix them quickly, and includes changes to encourage companies to use alternative detection technologies.