On May 10, the U.S. Senate failed to pass a resolution that would repeal a Department of the Interior rule limiting methane emissions from drilling operations on federal public lands. The narrow vote of 49-51 blocked a procedural motion that would have allowed the House-passed resolution to come to a full vote. This was the first time that Congress did not pass a Congressional Review Act resolution that has overturned 13 other policies finalized in the last days of the Obama administration. The Bureau of Land Management methane rule limited “flaring” of methane that is released at drilling sites. Under the policy, companies are required to capture this gas rather than burning it off. Immediately following the Senate vote, the Department of the Interior released a statement that they would be looking to “suspend, revise or rescind” the rule give its “significant regulatory burden.”

“The rule is expected to have real and harmful impacts on onshore energy development and could impact state and local jobs and revenue. Small independent oil and gas producers in states like North Dakota, Colorado and New Mexico, which account for a substantial portion of our nation’s energy wealth, could be hit the hardest,” said Kate MacGregor, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals. “The vote today in the Senate doesn’t impact the Administration’s commitment to spurring investment in responsible energy development and ensuring smart regulatory protections.”