American Lung Association: EPA Proposal to Roll Back Methane Limits Will Worsen Air Pollution and Health

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposal to roll back the 2024 methane pollution limits from the oil and gas industry. In response, the American Lung Association’s President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued the following statement:

“The American Lung Association is extremely disappointed to see EPA’s proposal to roll back methane limits. We supported these 2024 limits because they were designed to reduce methane pollution from the oil and gas industry, significantly reduce hazardous air pollutants and curb climate change, which harms the health of families across the U.S. EPA’s new proposal to revise these standards would lead to increased air pollution, wildfires, extreme weather, vector-borne diseases and more.

“This builds on EPA’s actions in 2025 to delay compliance with the 2024 methane standards by extending the implementation timeline for leak detection, emissions controls and the Super Emitter Program. The American Lung Association and leading national health and medical organizations opposed this delay of the lifesaving standards. 

“Curbing pollution from the oil and gas industry is critical to protecting public health. Methane gas is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in its warming power as a greenhouse gas over a 20-year period. Methane has been shown to leak into the atmosphere during every stage of the oil and gas production process. This not only carries environmental consequences, but leaks can also release harmful pollutants like volatile organic compounds that worsen air quality and carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde.   

“If finalized, this proposal would help polluting industries avoid cleanup and harm the communities who bear the brunt of dirtier air and a warming planet. The American Lung Association urges EPA to abandon this proposal and will continue to call for the implementation of strong, science-based standards to protect the air we all breathe and ensure healthier futures for families across the country.”