SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY -- The federal government wants to start regulating how much methane, or natural gas, is escaping into the atmosphere from the oil and gas industry.
The Obama Administration is proposing to cut that amount nearly in half within the next ten years, all in an effort to combat global warming.
There are dozens and dozens of natural gas well pads throughout Susquehanna County. Each one is tapping the gas underground to use as energy here on the surface.
Now, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing regulations to cut down on the amount of natural gas, or methane, that gets away from the gas industry.
Frank Finan uses a FLIR camera to see what's coming from a Williams compressor station near Kingsley.
Finan bought the expensive camera, suspecting that air quality would be a problem.
"My goal is to film this, make it public and let industry know that we know they`re not good neighbors," said Finan of Hop Bottom.
For its part, Williams said there are low levels of methane coming from the compressor station, which are monitored and permitted.
Williams said it has reduced methane emissions already and pledges to work with the Obama Administration on proposed regulations.
Some folks aren't convinced the industry needs more regulations, while others said they're necessary.
"They would be saving the environment if they did stuff like that," said Christina Hudak of West Nicholson.
"I don`t think the government needs to be regulating anymore things than they are. Everything they get their hands on they seem to foul up," said Dave Grosvenor of Elk Lake.
It could be next year before those federal regulations that would curb the amount of methane that escapes oil and gas industry go into effect. Folks who do keep watch over the industry said the federal government is not going far enough.
"We want them to say 'Oh yes, you caught us, we want to be good neighbors, we`ll stop this.' It`s a dream," added Finan.
An industry group, the Marcellus Shale Coalition, released this statement about the proposed regulations:
Thanks to common sense and strong state regulations, coupled with the industry’s laser-focus on leveraging new and advanced technologies aimed at protecting our environment, especially as it relates to overall air quality, CO2 and methane emissions continue to drastically fall as natural gas production soars to record levels. As EPA’s own analysis clearly demonstrates, methane emissions associated with onshore natural gas development have plunged by 73 percent over the past several years. Given these facts and the reality of this important environmental progress that we continue to make, this proposal – which the White House admits that it doesn’t ‘have sharp estimates of costs and benefits’ for – appears to be yet another Washington solution in search of a problem. – Marcellus Shale Coalition President Dave Spigelmyer
An environmental rights group in Pennsylvania issued this statement in regards to the EPA's move:
