NRDC: Supreme Court Keeps EPA Methane, Air Toxins Rules on Track

NRDC: Supreme Court Keeps EPA Methane, Air Toxins Rules on Track

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court rejected attempts by industry groups and some states to halt the Environmental Protection Agency's rules to cut methane leaks and flaring from the oil and gas sector and to limit toxic air pollution from coal plants.

NRDC and other environmental groups intervened in the cases to oppose the stay requests. The EPA standards are estimated to cut 58 million tons of methane -- a climate super-pollutant -- and strengthen toxic pollution standards for coal-fired power plants. The Supreme Court still is considering another, separate attempt by industry to halt carbon standards for power plants.

The following is a statement from David Doniger, a senior attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"The Supreme Court has sensibly rejected two efforts by industry to halt critical safeguards. The Court should do the same with the effort to block EPA's power plant carbon pollution standards, which comply with the very directions the Court gave in 2022."

"For far too long, oil and gas producers have been allowed to ignore the leaks in their own equipment and let dangerous methane and smog-forming compounds pollute our air. This EPA rule is a simple step forward that says the industry must periodically check its equipment and pipelines for leaks and cut down on flaring.

"With this crucial and commonsense decision today, the rules will stay in place, and states and the industry must begin to plan to comply with them.

"Of course, this isn't the end of the road. We'll now join EPA in defending these standards at the D.C. Circuit. But the decision today is a key sign that the EPA retains the ability to address climate pollution under the Clean Air Act."

The following is a comment from John Walke, senior clean air attorney at NRDC:

"The Court has allowed EPA's modest update of hazardous air pollution standards to go forward. These standards have helped prevent asthma and heart attacks - and have saved lives.

"The impact on companies from this updated rule couldn't be more reasonable, and it's an important sign that the high court saw through the industry's overreach. We will continue to help defend these rules in court."

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million membersand online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, lawand people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).