WASHINGTON, D.C. — The EPA’s proposal to weaken the current methane rule will harm Americans’ health and exacerbate climate change. The proposal waters down the standards that curtail methane emissions from oil and gas infrastructure.

“The EPA is capitulating to the oil and gas industry’s requests at the expense of Americans’ health and our quality of life,” said Shannon Heyck-Williams, associate vice president of climate and energy. “Strong standards protect us all from this dangerous air pollution and help lessen the impacts of climate change. People and wildlife are already paying the price as more drought, floods, wildfires and storms become more common and more intense due to climate change.”

“Limiting the release of this superpollutant into the environment is arguably the one of simplest ways to reduce planet-warming emissions. We shouldn’t change the rules simply to benefit an industry that is already making record profits.”

This move comes after a preliminary amendment to the standards this past March, extending the time that oil and gas operations may flare gas during equipment malfunctions and emergencies.