Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Trump EPA’s Delay of Protections Against Oil and Gas Methane Pollution

(Washington, D.C. – July 31, 2025) A dozen health, environment and community groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s delay of the 2024 methane standards for the oil and gas industry – standards that keep dangerous pollution out of our air and reduce wasted energy from oil and gas leaks, venting and flaring.

Trump EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin decided to delay requirements for companies to comply with the 2024 methane standards for as long as 18 months – even though the standards have been in place protecting Americans for more than a year now. Worse still, EPA is violating the law by offering no opportunity for public input on this action.

The rule delaying the standards was published in the Federal Register today. Hours later the groups – Environmental Defense Fund, Clean Air Council, Clean Air Task Force, Dakota Resource Council, Earthjustice, Earthworks, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Food & Water Watch, Fort Berthold Protectors of Water and Earth Rights (Fort Berthold POWER), GreenLatinos, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), and Sierra Club – filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. 

Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a climate pollutant that is 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming the planet. It is responsible for approximately one-third of the warming that we have experienced to date, driving climate change and the worsening floods, wildfires, heatwaves and other severe weather events that are harming people across the country. Control methods for methane also reduce emissions of other dangerous pollutants, including smog and soot-forming volatile organic compounds and air toxics that cause cancer. Failure to control methane leaks also results in billions of dollars each year in wasted product.

EPA’s own fact sheet notes that this delay will lead to more pollution – “The EPA estimates that the following emissions reductions will not occur from 2028-2038 as a result of the interim final rule: 3.8 million tons of methane, 960,000 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and 36,000 tons of toxic air pollutant.”

The 2024 methane standards reduced that pollution through commonsense steps like requiring leak detection and repairs. Proven and cost-effective solutions are available today to help oil and gas operators meet the standards that protect our climate and health while also reducing monetary losses and waste. Both large and independent producers have gone on record in support of federal methane regulation and major oil and gas producing states including Colorado, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and New Mexico have already been implementing the standards.  

The Trump EPA, however, decided to delay required compliance with the standards, effectively allowing industry bad actors to pollute more. And while EPA extensively engaged stakeholders before adopting the 2024 methane protections, including considering multiple rounds of public comments, the Trump EPA did not allow for any public comment until after its rule was already finalized, in clear violation of the law. 

Quotes from Petitioners

“The 2024 methane standards are already working to reduce oil and gas pollution, protect people’s health and safety, and prevent the pointless waste of American energy. Delaying the standards, and doing it without public input, is unlawful and dangerous. Americans deserve cleaner air, lower gas bills, and less risk from weather disasters fueled by climate change. That’s why we’re going to court in defense of the 2024 methane standards.” – Rosalie Winn, Director and Lead Counsel of Methane and Clean Air Policy, Environmental Defense Fund

“Now is the time to ramp up efforts to clean up the industry’s pollution, not further delay those efforts. Methane and VOC pollution from the oil and gas industry is critical to addressing climate change and improving public health, and there are real consequences for any time wasted. By EPA’s own admission, a one-year delay in implementation of existing source standards would result in 3.8 million tons of methane and 960,000 tons of smog-forming VOC pollution that will lead to local health impacts and contribute to worsening air quality.” – Darin Schroeder, Methane Legal and Regulatory Director, Clean Air Task Force

“The Trump administration has yet again displayed its contempt for the law, this time ignoring the requirement for public input and hastily issuing a rule that gives the oil and gas industry a pass to pollute, harm our health, and degrade our environment. We will hold EPA accountable in court.” – Alexandra Schluntz, Senior Attorney, Earthjustice

“Instead of tackling methane pollution, the EPA’s latest actions loosen the leash on polluters who have the means to curb this potent greenhouse gas and the toxic pollutants that accompany it. Beyond driving climate change, this pollution degrades the public health, well-being, and quality of life of Midwest residents — especially those near oil and gas operations in Michigan and North Dakota. By issuing this interim final rule before even considering the public’s input, the EPA once again makes it clear it values the interests of polluters over the well-being of our communities and the health of our environment.” – Wendy Bloom, Senior Attorney, Environmental Law & Policy Center

"Yet again, the Trump administration is clearing the way for corporate polluters to keep polluting. The oil and gas industry is a massive emitter of climate-harming methane and other dangerous pollutants, and the Trump EPA's attempt to delay common-sense regulations is another egregious affront to public health and a livable climate.” – Erin Doran, Senior Staff Attorney, Food & Water Watch

“Delaying implementation of the EPA’s methane protections is a direct assault on the health of Latino communities and other frontline populations who are already overburdened by oil and gas pollution. The science is clear and the stakes are high — every day of delay means more cancer-causing benzene in our air, more asthma attacks in our children, and more methane fueling the climate crisis. Communities like mine in Southern California can’t afford another year of inaction. This move by Administrator Zeldin is not only unjustified — it’s dangerous.” – Irene Burga, Climate Justice & Clean Air Director, GreenLatinos

“EPA’s methane pollution standard was the result of years of research and practice regarding the most effective, achievable ways to reduce harmful emissions from the oil and gas industry. Delaying this rule would only benefit the worst industry actors at the expense of our climate and health. It is particularly outrageous that the Trump Administration would take this action without public participation, in blatant violation of the law. We look forward to defending these commonsense protections in this lawsuit.” - Andres Restrepo, Senior Attorney, Sierra Club