Two local leaders have joined a national push for increased methane regulation in the oil and gas industry.
A letter sent to President Barack Obama and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy last week has the support of 70 elected officials nationwide, including outgoing Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot and Aspen Mayor Steve Skadron.
“Our local economy and our quality of life are dependent on a healthy natural environment,” said Skadron. “And we are affected by the habits of our neighbors and methane pollution does not stop at the roundabout.”
One third of Americans live in counties with oil and gas development. The methane byproduct released when drilling for gas is shown to have 80 times the effect on climate change than carbon dioxide has.
Colorado has more restrictive methane regulations than the federal government. The 30 Colorado representatives who signed on to the letter urge the EPA to use this state as an example in cutting methane release nationwide.