Letter to the Hon. Andrew Wheeler, Administrator of the EPA - Bennet, Bicameral Colleagues Highlight Dangerous New EPA Methane Rule

Letter

Dear Administrator Wheeler:

We are writing to express our deep concern over the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizing new rules that would rescind limits on methane pollution from the oil and gas industry. These rollbacks are another blatant example of this Administration's disregard for public health and the environment-- and it is especially unsettling given the growing evidence linking exposure to air pollution to more severe cases of COVID-19.

These new rules weaken EPA's ability to limit dangerous methane pollution from the oil and gas sector. If these rules take effect, oil and gas companies will no longer be required to detect and repair methane leaks. In addition, these rules will rescind limits on methane emissions from large pipelines, storage sites, and other parts of the transmission system, which all are major sources of toxic pollution in the oil and gas supply chain. Emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds, toxic air pollutants, and greenhouse gases will go unabated as a result, threatening the health and safety of the surrounding communities and fueling climate change.

This rollback not only comes at a time when our country is battling a global health pandemic, but it also comes amidst growing evidence linking climate change and exposure to air pollution with maternal health risks. Research shows that pregnant women exposed to high temperatures and air pollution have a higher risk of giving birth to children who are premature, underweight, or stillborn. Preterm births are associated with higher rates of infant deaths and can lead to adverse health outcomes like breathing problems, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. What's more, research shows that these risks are significantly higher for Black mothers and babies than the population at large. EPA's recent rollback will increase planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution, exacerbating these disproportionate health impacts on women of color.

Additionally, in a July 2020 report, researchers found that expecting mothers living within a three-mile residual proximity to natural gas flaring at oil and gas production sites had a 30% greater risk of giving birth prematurely than those who did not live nearby, and exposure to 10 or more flares led to a 50% risk. Of further concern is that the impacts of flaring were present only among Hispanic women; non-Hispanic white women, who comprised a third of the mothers in the study, did not see an increased risk.

Oil and gas production facilities are historically located in or near communities of color--and as a result, communities of color are exposed to higher levels of air pollution. More than 1 million Black Americans and 1.81 million Hispanic Americans live within a half-mile of oil and gas production facilities.

These same communities are also grappling with racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. The rate of preterm births among Hispanic women is more than 12 percent higher than non-Hispanic white mothers, and nearly one out of every four Hispanic infants is born premature. The rate of black mothers who die is 3.3 times greater than whites, and these racial disparities persist even when factoring for social status, income, and education. Contributing factors to these inequalities are implicit racial bias in the health care system, barriers to accessing health care services, and the physical and physiological effects of structural racism. Despite this mounting evidence, the Trump administration continues across its agencies to dismantle rules designed to limit air pollution, slow climate change, and protect our health.

The job of EPA is to protect human health, but this administration continues to put our health in danger, failing in its fundamental duty. This especially impacts Black and brown communities that historically have been burdened with cumulative pollution impacts -- and who are now experiencing disproportionate rates of and deaths from COVID-19. We cannot ignore the racial disparities in health outcomes. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please feel free to have your staff reach out to Sara Jordan (Sara.Jordan@mail.house.gov) and Betsey Coulbourn (Bestey.Coulbourn@mail.house.gov).

Sincerely,