Houston Locke Lord Partner Gerry Pels Quoted by The National Law Journal on EPA’s Methane Rule and Expected Hurdles Facing Regulators

Gerry Pels, Houston Partner and Chair of the Firm-wide Environmental Section – Energy and Industry and ESG Practice, was quoted by The National Law Journal on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation that aims to sharply reduce emissions of methane and other harmful air pollution from oil and natural gas operations. Pels discusses the potential legal and compliance hurdles facing the energy industry noting that the cost “will be much steeper than anticipated.” He adds that the final rule’s introduction of the Super Emitter Program, which uses remote sensing to detect large methane releases or leaks known as “super emitters,” has stricter certification requirements.

“Detection and reporting to EPA needs to be more focused than it would have appeared under the proposed rule,” Pels said. “The program will likely put increased pressure on the regulated community to fully evaluate and be prepared to quickly respond to emission events that can potentially impact community receptors.”

Read the full National Law Journal article (subscription may be required).