$1.9 billion and counting…

$1.9 billion and counting…

WCC and Citizens for Clean Air project the total value of natural gas lost from venting, flaring, and leaking on public lands since 2013, which now totals nearly $1.9 billion, on the Wayne Aspinall Federal Building in Grand Junction.

Tell Secretary of Interior Zinke to stop the waste by April 23

Delay in implementing BLM’s Methane Rule costs taxpayers millions

“When you vent and flare (gas), you are not paying royalties. So, we’re talking between $1 billion and $1.9 billion dollars in wasted methane, that’s not bringing revenue to the people in the communities who could use it.” – Kristin Winn, Grand Junction

On April 4, Western Slope residents rallied to keep critical protections to limit the venting, leaking and flaring of taxpayer-owned natural gas intact. As the Bureau of Land Movement moves to gut these protections, over $1.9 billion of taxpayer monies have already been lost on wasted natural gas. (Click here to see video footage of the rally.)

You can help us stop this needless waste. Join Kristin and submit a comment to the BLM today to keep these protections strong by April 23.

Although the BLM Methane Waste Reduction Rule was passed with strong support in 2016, the Trump Administration has been working to roll it back since they came into office. Over the past year, we have protected the rule from Congressional attacks, from lawsuits, and now we must rally the public once again to show the BLM that millions of Americans support common sense protections for taxpayers, clean air, and our climate.

The BLM’s revised Methane Waste Reduction Rule is now open for public comment through April 23. The BLM isn’t planning to hold public hearings to enable you to weigh in. But you can send your comments on this proposal here.

Together we can defend the protections we have worked for years to achieve.

About the author

Emily stepped up as our staff director in 2017, but originally joined our team as a community organizer in 2013. Born and raised on the Western Slope, Emily graduated from Colorado State University and then had the privilege of learning from and working alongside organizers in Central and South America as well as Appalachian coal country. They returned to their home state to protect the land they love and work with fellow Coloradans for a healthy, just and self-reliant future for our rural communities. Emily enjoys organizing, exploring the Colorado Plateau, country music and punk concerts with equal passion.

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