Blessings everyone. While we would love to nest into a January retreat, or read a book and reflect more with the birds in the feeder---there is so much to engage with. We are grateful for our community and that we can work together in love for the Common Good.
In November, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed safeguards to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations. While EPA's proposal represents an important step in the right direction, there are important gaps on critical issues, including requiring frequent inspections at smaller wells and a ban on routine flaring that must be included to ensure public health is prioritized, frontline communities are protected, climate change is tackled, and oil and gas companies are held accountable.
The EPA plans to issue a supplemental proposal in 2022 that will expand on the 2021 proposal in response to public input provided during the comment period. Participation in the public comment period is essential to ensuring that EPA enacts strong, comprehensive methane safeguards to protect our health and our planet. The deadline to submit public comments is January 31, 2022.
