Don’t let industry backslide on environmental rules

REGARDING THE story Feb. 12, “Interior to replace Obama-era rule on methane emissions/Many companies consider the rule unnecessary and overly intrusive.”

This is the position on just about every environmental rule that is imposed on the oil and gas industry. I saw this throughout most of my 30-plus-year career as a chemical engineer and strategic planner for one of the largest oil companies in the USA. The common complaint is how “it will cost millions and people will lose jobs,” but that’s mostly bull.

In addition, the American Petroleum Institute (API) wants you to believe the industry is self-regulating. However, the truth is that the only thing that matters is the law. Its very simple, without the federal government setting the “rules,” corporate America is completely free to do as it wants. Our capitalistic system is dominated by monetary optimization, and these “discretionary” projects do not make it into the budgets. There is no incentive nor accountability in self-regulation. Self-regulation is small talk, smoke and mirrors, and nothing more.

Federal-level environmental laws are absolutely essential. There are far more benefits from environmental regulations — and the resulting engineering solutions — than what many corporate leaders and the API would have you believe. This industry has come a very long way, and the backsliding and unraveling under the current administration should alarm everyone. BILL ADAMS Albuquerque