Courts block Biden-Harris methane rules in five states — does Watt support them?

From the Daily Caller

Marianne Angela
journalist

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily halted enforcement in five states of a Biden-Harris administration rule aimed at reducing methane emissions and minimizing natural gas waste on federal lands.

According to the “Capitol Hill” report, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor issued a preliminary injunction to temporarily prevent the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from enforcing orders in North Dakota, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming in April. and new rules implemented in Utah. The states argue that federal rules requiring oil and gas companies to implement waste reduction and leak detection programs on public lands constitute an overreach of federal authority and infringe on states' rights.

According to the media report, the controversial rule requires operators to reduce emissions, flaring and leaks of natural gas during oil extraction. The Biden-Harris administration has built into its climate agenda reducing certain emissions, such as methane, the main component of natural gas.

Traynor said in his ruling that the states are likely to prevail because “the 2024 rule is arbitrary and capricious as to its assertions,” noting that aspects of the rule are “inadequately explained” and “contradictory ”. Dakota Monitor reports. The regulation affects federal and tribal lands, and the Fort Berthold Reservation is home to most oil and gas extraction on tribal lands in North Dakota.

According to the North Dakota Observer, the Bureau of Land Management, part of the Department of the Interior, believes that natural gas emissions and flaring waste public and Native American resources, reduce substantial royalty revenue for taxpayers, tribes and states, while exacerbating the climate change. Judge Traynor, however, held that BLM lacks air quality control authority, which is reserved for the EPA and states under the Clean Air Act.

North Dakota has challenged the rule, claiming it infringes on state sovereignty and will reduce state revenue from oil and gas production, while the Bureau of Land Management estimates the rule could generate more than $50 million, according to the North Dakota Monitor of tax revenue. Traynor further questioned the economics of the rule, saying it “provides no rationale for why combustion is more economical than emissions.” (Related: Biden administration bans new oil leases on 1.6 million acres)

The North Dakota Petroleum Commission celebrated the decision as a victory for the oil industry, saying the rule would impose strict flaring restrictions and costly compliance requirements, especially for small operations, the North Dakota Observer said. Businesses bring burdens. In response, Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum applauded the court's temporary injunction, accusing the Biden administration of overstepping federal regulations on onshore oil and gas production.

The White House, Burgum and the North Dakota Petroleum Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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