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Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] POLITICO Pro Energy Whiteboard Fri 7/7/2017 9:59:32 PM EPA asks court to pause methane rule enforcement order
By Ben Lefebvre
07/07/2017 05:56 PM EDT
EPA today asked a federal court to delay an earlier decision requiring it to enforce an Obama-era rule to limit methane emissions from oil and gas drilling.
Administrator Scott Pruitt sought to put key aspects of the methane rule on hold last month while the Trump administration considers ways to revise it, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Monday ruled that he could not do so without taking public comment. The court ordered EPA to immediately resume enforcing the rule, which requires installing leak detection and repair systems on new oil and gas wells and any that were drilled since it was finalized last August.
In a filing today, EPA argues that the court jumped the gun by requiring the agency to enforce the rule immediately after its ruling instead of allowing what it deems a normal seven-day lead time. That deprived the EPA sufficient time to consider a rehearing, agency lawyers claimed in the latest filing.
"In light of these interests in allowing the United States and the regulated community the standard period to thoughtfully decide whether to seek further review of the significant issues raised by the Court's decision, recall of the mandate is warranted," the agency wrote.
WHAT'S NEXT: It remains to be seen how quickly the court responds to EPA's motion. Pruitt has proposed a longer-term stay of the methane rule that is expected to be in place within the next few months.
To view online'. https://www.politicopro.eom/energy/whiteboard/2017/07/epa-asks-appeals-court-to-reconsider-
deci sion-on-methane-emissions-rule-090180
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Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002297-00001
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002297-00002