Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0162

To: EPA Administrator Zeldin

As someone who is deeply concerned about the health of our communities and the future of our climate, we urge the EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to immediately implement the 2024 Methane Rule without further delay.

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a climate pollutant that is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide at warming our planet, contributing to roughly one-third of the warming we have already experienced. Its unchecked emissions drive increasingly severe weather events — floods, wildfires and heatwaves — that threaten people across the country.

In addition, controlling methane leaks also curbs other dangerous pollutants like smog-forming VOCs and cancer-causing air toxics, while preventing billions of dollars in wasted product each year.

The EPA's own analysis underscores the urgent need for these protections, estimating that a one year delay will result in 3.8 million tons of methane, 960,000 tons of VOCs and 36,000 tons of toxic air pollution that could have been reduced in 2028.

The 2024 methane standards offer commonsense, proven and cost-effective solutions such as leak detection and repairs. Major oil and gas producing-states have already begun implementing and both large and independent producers support methane regulation. Plus, these protections will cost operators just a fraction of their bottom line.

These safeguards are not only vital for protecting public health and our climate but also reduce the needless waste of our natural resources.

It is deeply troubling that Administrator Zeldin chose to delay compliance with these standards, allowing industry polluters to emit even more harmful pollution, and did so without permitting public comment until after the rule was finalized — a clear violation of the law and the principles of transparent government.

We call on Administrator Zeldin to prioritize the health and safety of people across the U.S.  by advancing full implementation of the 2024 methane protections. Our climate, our communities and our future demand nothing less.