Michael Lewis
Former Clean Air and Water Advocate, Environment Texas Research & Policy Center
Texas Advocates Urge President Biden to Cut Oil and Gas Methane Pollution
Media Contacts
Austin, Texas – On Thursday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m., state advocates will host a press conference and rally as part of a nationwide day of action to call on President Joe Biden to take immediate action to cut methane pollution from the oil and gas industry. The event will take place at the historic Santa Rita No. 1 oil rig on the University of Texas campus in Austin and will feature speakers from environmental justice, faith, environmental, and frontline community groups.
Texas is the largest onshore producer of oil and gas in the nation.
In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a draft rule to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from oil and gas operations across the U.S. While this was an important step in the right direction, thousands of people submitted public comments urging EPA to go further and address critical gaps in the initial proposed rule.
This week, over 12,000 people from across the country – including some 1,000 in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas – sent petitions to the US EPA and President Biden urging his administration to move swiftly and publish strong methane rules that protect our climate and the health of our communities. The event on Oct. 6 will be another strong showing of Texans urging Biden to publish the updated – and stronger – EPA methane rule as soon as possible.
WHO:
- Sheila Serna, Climate Science and Policy Director, Rio Grande International Study Center;
- Dr. Cyrus Reed, Conservation Director, Lone Star Chapter, Sierra Club;
- Rev. Mel Caraway, Texas Impact;
- Michael Lewis, Environment Texas Research and Policy Center
Additionally, representatives from the Environmental Defense Fund will be in attendance.
WHAT: Press conference to urge President Biden to take immediate action on methane pollution.
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Santa Rita No. 1 historic rig, 312 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Austin, TX 78712 on the UT campus, or via Facebook Livestream here