“The Trump administration has proven, once again, that they are willing to risk the health and safety of Americans for political games. This action is not only an assault on Coloradans' health, but will also cut methane-reduction industry jobs and limit natural gas supply at a time when energy prices are already soaring. Colorado is a proud leader in state methane pollution limits, and I will continue working to defend these valuable protections nationwide.
Back to stories
At an Oil and Gas Conference in Santa Fe, Lee Zeldin Announces EPA Will Propose Scrapping the Methane "Super Emitter" Program and Loosening Rules for Small Wells — "It Does Not Have to Be a Binary Choice" — While Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Warns of "More Pollution Drifting Into the Lungs of Families," Ben Ray Luján Says It Puts "Our Energy Security at Risk," and Gabe Vasquez Calls It "the Wrong Choice"
October 8, 2026
On Oct. 7, 2026, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin told the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association's annual conference in Santa Fe that the agency would soon propose weakening the 2024 methane standards for oil and gas operations. The plan would rescind the Super Emitter Program, which lets certified third parties report large methane leaks. It would also create separate, looser standards for marginal or "stripper" wells, about four of every five producing wells nationally, and revisit rules for gas from oil wells, allowing a return to flaring. Zeldin said the formal proposal would follow within days. EPA estimated the changes would save producers about $45 billion a year but had not published an analysis to support that figure. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state's own methane rules, among the strictest in the country, would stay in place. Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado and Rep. Gabe Vasquez, whose district includes part of the Permian Basin, put out statements opposing the rollback. Environmental groups including EDF, NRDC and the National Wildlife Federation also criticized it. The proposal had not yet appeared in the Federal Register.
5
Statements Recorded
See what your representatives said?
5 Statements
“Energy production drives our state's economy and provides good-paying jobs, and we can continue to do it while strengthening, not weakening, protections for clean air for the workers and families who work in and near the industry. Excess methane emissions are known to cause respiratory disease and other ailments, and many producers in the Permian Basin have implemented new technology to prevent leaks and capture more methane, and that work must continue. This harmful rollback is the wrong choice for the health of our workers, communities, and companies that have responsibly worked toward reducing excess emissions.
“New Mexico has shown that strong methane protections can support our energy industry while protecting public health, creating jobs, and preventing valuable energy from going to waste. The Trump administration's move to weaken federal methane standards is a step that puts public health, our environment, and our energy security at risk. When families are concerned about energy costs, we should be keeping more natural gas in pipelines and harmful pollution out of our air, not rolling back commonsense protections. I strongly oppose these efforts to weaken these vital standards and will continue working to protect New Mexicans' health, our environment, and energy needs.
“[Statement responding to Zeldin's announcement, saying New Mexico worked with industry on] some of the nation's strongest methane rules, cutting venting and flaring[:] … Rolling back federal standards means more pollution drifting into the lungs of families living next to wells and flares, and a hotter planet for the rest of us.
“[To the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association's annual conference in Santa Fe:] Our core mission is protecting human health and the environment. … We believe strongly that we can both protect the environment and grow the economy. It does not have to be a binary choice where we are forced to pick one or the other. … [The Super Emitter Program is] not necessary to meet Clean Air Act requirements — and it's not effective. … [On stripper wells:] These wells are a critical part of household economics. … Some owners use oil and gas to produce and power homes or run farm equipment. … [The changes will] help unleash more U.S. energy dominance across America.