Dems pressure agency to finish pipeline methane rule

Dozens of Senate and House Democrats are urging the Biden administration to finalize a critical pipeline methane rule as soon as possible — perhaps before former President Donald Trump potentially returns to the White House.

Led by Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Rep. Scott Peters of California, the letter signed by 40 Democrats asks the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to finalize a draft rule that could aggressively go after methane leaks from the nation’s natural gas pipelines.

The lawmakers argue the rule is “already far behind schedule” given Congress gave PHMSA until the end of 2021 to finish it. The issue was part of a PHMSA reauthorization included in massive spending legislation passed by Congress at the end of 2020.