nited States Senate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 January 12, 2017 Dear Colleague: We urge you to oppose Congressional attempts to allow unnecessary natural gas waste from oil and gas facilities on federal and Indian lands through a Congressional Resolution of Disapproval on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Methane Waste Prevention Rule. ‘The Methane Waste Prevention Rule is a sensible measure that was recommended by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) — the investigative arm of Congress charged with examining matters relating to the receipt and payment of public funds. GAO recommended to Congress that the BLM should do more to protect taxpayers fiom unnecessary ‘waste of their natural gas resources and update 30-year old rules governing natural gas operations that have not kept up with new technologies and American innovation. This rule accomplishes that important task. Using the Congressional Review Act to repeal this rule would be an exceedingly blunt tool that ‘would harm federal taxpayers and westem states’ budgets by allowing millions of dollars’ worth of natural gas to be vented, flared and leaked, wasting taxpayer-owned resources, and slowing the growth of small businesses rising to meet this challenge, all while polluting our air. Natural gas that is drilled on public lands belongs to our citizens and that is drilled on Indian land to the tribes that own the lands. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 obligates the Department of the Interior to prevent waste from oil and gas operations on these lands, Oil and gas operations ‘who benefit from developing these resources must compensate taxpayers for their extraction through royalty payments. However, at present, too much natural gas is unnecessarily vented, flared and leaked — resulting in waste of the resource and loss of royalty payments. Indeed, enough taxpayer-owned natural gas is being wasted annually on America’s public lands to supply a city the size of Chicago for an entire year. In fact, oil and gas companies drilling on public lands waste approximately $330 million-worth of natural gas each year, costing American taxpayers millions of dollars in federal and state royalty revenue. This money could be used for schools, job-creating infrastructure projects, healthcare, and other important services. BLM’s rule prevents unnecessary waste of the resource.In addition, the waste is compounding ill health effects on our citizens. Methane waste contributes to ground level ozone that can result in respiratory problems and hurt those with asthma, emphysema, and other illnesses. NASA has shown a methane pollution cloud the size of Delaware over the Four Comers Region while communities across the country have been forced to suffer with unhealthy air as a result of oil and gas development without the appropriate standards, Reducing methane keeps people healthier and reduces healthcare costs. Congress must demonstrate its commitment to fiscal responsibility, to addressing public health, and ensure that the American taxpayer receives a fair return by opposing any attempt to repeal this rule. Sincerely, Tom Udall Ron Wyden