DENVER — The Bureau of Land Management’s final rule on reducing methane waste from oil and gas production on public lands will conserve critical energy resources, with the added benefit of decreasing toxic pollution and planet-warming methane gas generated from routine flaring and venting. The rule will benefit wildlife, public lands, water resources, and nearby communities. By requiring royalties for wasted methane, the rule will also generate more than $50 million each year for American taxpayers.

“This long-overdue rule will limit wasteful venting and flaring of gas on public lands, which means more money for taxpayers. It also means operators will emit less toxic pollution which is good news for wildlife, public health, and rural communities,” said Bailey Brennan, public lands attorney at the National Wildlife Federation. “We look forward to working with the Biden Administration as it implements and enforces all federal methane rules.”

“Tackling the climate crisis means we must curtail methane waste from new and existing oil and gas development. This updated rule will help reduce this dangerous super-pollutant while also reducing other toxins like benzene, which threaten wildlife, watersheds, and people,” said Shannon Heyck-Williams, associate vice president of climate and energy at the National Wildlife Federation. “We urge the Biden Administration to use every tool available to cut pollution at oil and gas sites to protect both wildlife and people, and confront climate change.”