Methane, the major element of natural gas, is more harmful to the environment than CO2. The Environmental Protection Agency has assigned methane gas a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 72 (20 year average). That means it is ”72 times more effective at preventing infrared radiation from escaping the planet.”
Natural gas production and use comes right after landfills as the chief source of methane gas.
Source: Slate and Wikipedia.
Air pollution occurs at every stage of oil and gas operations
- Exploration
- Drilling
- Venting
- Flaring
- Dehydration
- Processing
- Compression
- Equipment leaks
- Evaporation from pits
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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How true you are about methane. And, on top of that, be it known that the TCEQ specifically omits the control of methane in the air. It does not prohibit or limit emissions of methane to the air.
Further, the RRC does not prevent, limit or control the emissions of methane to the air, unless it has a commercial value–and they let the operators decide if it has a commercial value.