Methane hot spot raising questions
FARMINGTON — A prooil and gas advocacy group is questioning why New Mexico is developing methane regulations without first determining the role naturally-occurring sources — like coal outcroppings — play in the formation of a methane hot spot over the Four Corners region.
Power the Future argues that the state should first determine the role of naturally-occurring sources prior to developing the regulations that impact the oil and gas industry.
The state launched an effort earlier this year to develop regulations to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas extraction. State officials have said in public meetings that the oil and gas industry is responsible for 62% of methane emissions statewide.
However, Power the Future Western States Director Larry Behrens said he received a copy of an email through a public records request that shows the state does not know how much the industry contributes to methane emissions.
This email is from NMED spokeswoman Maddy Hayden to Nora Sackett and Tripp Stelnicki, who work as spokespeople for the governor’s office. This email contains a draft press release regarding emission standards for cars. At the bottom of the draft press release, it also discusses the governor’s methane mitigation efforts.
In the email, NMED tells the governor’s team to leave out references to the Four Corners methane hot spot because there are naturally occurring sources that contribute to the hot spot. NMED further states that they don’t know how much naturallyoccurring emissions contribute to the hot spot.
“This email raises a number of questions,” Behrens said. “By their own admission, this administration doesn’t know what role naturally occurring methane sources contribute and yet they are moving forward with new regulations. If the administration’s position isn’t accurate enough for a press release, how can it be accurate enough for rules that will impact thousands of energy workers in our communities?”
Hayden and Stelnicki said in an email that it would not make sense to postpone developing regulations until the state can determine the role of naturally occurring sources.
“There are plenty of reasons to reduce methane emissions aside from any contribution they make to the Four Corners cloud,” Hayden said.