Lujan Grisham Condemns EPA Methane Rule Rollback
SANTA FE, N.M. — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Oct. 7 issued a statement condemning the Environmental Protection Agency's rollback of federal methane regulations, warning that weaker rules threaten air quality and public health in oil- and gas-producing states, according to the governor's office.
The governor said the rollback undermines accountability for an industry that has seen record production in the Permian Basin, which straddles southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and the oil and gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the United States.
Lujan Grisham noted that New Mexico has adopted its own nation-leading methane and ozone precursor rules for the oil and gas industry, including requirements for leak detection and repair, and said the state will continue enforcing its standards regardless of federal action. The state's rules, finalized in recent years, were developed in consultation with industry, environmental groups and affected communities.
The EPA's move is part of a broader Trump administration effort to roll back Biden-era environmental regulations, including vehicle emissions standards and power plant rules. Administration officials argue the rollbacks reduce compliance costs and support domestic energy production.
Environmental groups and several Democratic-led states vowed to challenge the methane rollback in court, setting up another legal battle over the scope of federal environmental authority. New Mexico's attorney general said the state was reviewing its legal options.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：新墨西哥州议会大厦（圆屋）入口。摄影：Einar E. Kvaran，CC BY-SA 3.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
