The US
Senate declined to overturn an Obama-era rule that requires oil and gas
companies to limit their methane emissions if they’re drilling on federal and
tribal lands. The outcome of the 51-49 vote was surprising given that Congress
has thus far opted 13 times to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to
overturn recent rules made in the previous administration, according to the Washington Post.
Every democrat in the Senate voted against the motion to
overturn the methane rule, including Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Joe Manchin
(D-W.Va.)—senators from fossil fuel-rich states who often vote in favor of
those interests. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Lindsey
Graham (R-S.C.) also joined the democrats.
Washington,
D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement
on his vote today against a motion to proceed to a resolution to overturn the
Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) methane recapture rule:
“Today I voted
against a procedural motion that would have brought a resolution to the Senate
floor to overturn the BLM methane recapture rule.
“Improving the
control of methane emissions is an important public health and air quality
issue, which is why some states are moving forward with their own regulations
requiring greater investment in recapture technology. I join the call for
strong action to reduce pollution from venting, flaring and leaks associated
with oil and gas production operations on public and Indian land. While I am
concerned that the BLM rule may be onerous, passage of the resolution would
have prevented the federal government, under any administration, from issuing a
rule that is ‘similar,’ according to the plain reading of the Congressional
Review Act.
“I believe that the
public interest is best served if the Interior Department issues a new rule to
revise and improve the BLM methane rule. I look forward to working with my
colleagues who voted to proceed to the resolution today.”
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