A proposed rule aimed at reducing methane emissions from the state’s existing oil and gas operations overwhelmingly passed the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board this week by a vote of 18-1.

The rule, drafted by the state Department of Environmental Protection and recommended by Gov. Tom Wolf, immediately drew praise from Pennsylvania environmental groups.

“A robust approach to addressing methane waste is an opportunity to grow Pennsylvania’s economy, and the methane mitigation industry stands at the ready to tackle this problem,” said Isaac Brown, executive director of the Center for Methane Emissions Solutions. “Gov. Tom Wolf has smartly backed a more responsible approach to energy development and will help boost family-sustaining jobs, cleaner air and more secure climate in the process.”

The primary component of natural gas, methane accounted for about 10.2% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in 2017, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The rule, announced by DEP in December 2018, aims to reduce methane leaks from the state’s oil and gas wells and improve leak detection. The plan, which would exempt most conventional gas wells, conforms to a 2016 Obama-era rule that requires certain states to impose new emissions controls for oil and gas field sources by early 2021.

Pennsylvania, the nation’s No. 2 natural gas producer, has an estimated 80,000 conventional oil and gas wells and about 10,651 active unconventional gas wells, according to DEP.

DEP’s proposal would impose stronger limits on pollutants known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, while at the same time reducing methane emissions.

In light of the Trump administration’s desire to withdraw the 2016 rule, the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an oil-and-gas trade group, had asked DEP to delay imposition of the methane emission regulations.

“Our industry is laser-focused on ensuring methane, the product we produce and sell, as well as related emissions, are effectively and safely managed,” said MSC President David Spigelmyer. “We do, however, have concerns about potential costs, as well as DEP’s timing, given ongoing federal regulatory activity associated with existing source emissions.”

The Environmental Defense Fund suggested two changes to the rule — removing the exemption for low-producing wells that, in aggregate, generate a significant amount of emission, and eliminating the provision that relieves operators of the responsibility to conduct frequent inspections of equipment that had passed previous inspections.

The proposed rule will now go to Attorney General Josh Shapiro for review. A 60-day public comment period is expected to open in January.

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