Law360 spoke with Of Counsel Timothy J. Sullivan (Washington, DC) on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent rule strengthening methane emissions regulations. As discussed in a B&D alert last month, EPA announced a final Clean Air Act rule designed to reduce emissions of methane and other pollutants from operations in the oil and natural gas industry. “New Climate Cost Estimate A Bullseye On EPA Methane Rule,” explains the rule and the potential litigation to follow.

Law360 discussed EPA’s clarification that its new estimates of the social cost of methane emissions and benefits of reductions, distinct from the "best system of emission reduction" determinations, were included to comply with a 1993 executive order on cost-benefit analyses. Tim noted that he thinks EPA is "trying to prevent the social cost of greenhouse gas estimates from creating a legal vulnerability for the selected standards."

Tim added, “regardless of how the litigation over the methane rule plays out, EPA has broken new ground and its social cost of greenhouse gas estimates are likely to be influential across the federal government.”

Beveridge & Diamond’s Air and Climate Change practice group helps private and municipal clients navigate all aspects of compliance with Clean Air Act regulations for criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, greenhouse gases, rulemakings, and permitting processes. For more information, please contact the authors or members of our Air and Climate Change practice group.