--- title: "EPA proposes rollback of methane rules for oil and gas" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/epa-proposes-rollback-of-methane-rules-for-oil-and-gas" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/epa-proposes-rollback-of-methane-rules-for-oil-and-gas" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/epa-proposes-rollback-of-methane-rules-for-oil-and-gas.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/epa-proposes-rollback-of-methane-rules-for-oil-and-gas" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-08T15:05:30.485Z" source_reported: "2026-10-08T10:05:00.000Z" updated: "2026-10-08T15:05:30.485Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-08T17:30:19.409360+00:00" --- # EPA proposes rollback of methane rules for oil and gas *Agency plans to undo Biden-era regulations aimed at curbing potent greenhouse gas emissions.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, but relies on anonymous sourcing and lacks specific dates/locations. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and explains why the story matters. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises a rollback, but the body details a proposed rollback, not a finalized one. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will propose changes to existing oil and gas rules concerning methane pollution. - EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the proposed changes are expected to save $45 billion in regulatory costs. - The proposal includes rescinding the Biden-era Super Emitter Program, which allows third parties to identify and report major methane leaks. - Environmental advocates have criticised the move, accusing the administration of prioritising fossil fuel interests over public health and the climate. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to propose changes to federal rules designed to limit methane pollution from oil and gas operations. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the proposed changes are expected to save $45 billion in regulatory costs. The announcement was made during the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association’s annual meeting in Santa Fe. The proposal includes rescinding the Biden-era Super Emitter Program, a mechanism that permits third parties to identify significant methane leaks and require companies to address them. ## Disagreement on timing and intent Common Dreams reported that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency is "days, not weeks, away from announcing our proposal." World Oil and The Hill stated the agency is "days away from proposing" revisions. However, Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Devdiscourse, WTVB, and The San Joaquin Valley Sun reported the EPA "said it would soon propose scrapping" or "stated it will propose eliminating" the policy. Environmental advocates, as reported by Common Dreams, accuse the administration of putting "fossil fuel interests ahead of public health and the climate," while The San Joaquin Valley Sun reported Zeldin argued the decision will help keep energy affordable for Americans. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific figure of $45 billion in projected cost savings that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the proposed changes would achieve. Similarly, none of the centre-rated digests mention this cost-saving figure. The right-rated digest does not mention the $45 billion figure or the specific rescinding of the Super Emitter Program. ## Who covered it Shares of the 14 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 43% (6) - Centre: 50% (7) - Right: 7% (1) 5 of 19 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-08T17:30:19.409360+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-08T17:45:10.558Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports led on the announcement of the proposed rollback of methane regulations. Common Dreams' headline stated the "Trump EPA Continues Its Rampage With Methane Pollution Rollback." These reports highlighted criticisms from environmental advocates, quoting individuals who described the move as "environmental destruction" and a "slap in the face to families." The potential health impacts, including increased smog and cancer-causing pollution, were also emphasised. The role of methane as a potent greenhouse gas was noted, with Common Dreams stating it has "more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide during its first two decades." ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on the EPA's announcement of proposed changes to methane leak regulations. Headlines included "US will rescind policy targeting oil and gas industry methane leaks" (Hawaii Tribune-Herald) and "EPA administrator announces proposal to rollback methane emission rules" (KRQE News 13). These reports noted EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's statement that the proposal would save $45 billion in regulatory costs and that the agency is "days away from proposing" the changes. The rescinding of the Biden-era Super Emitter Program was mentioned as a key component of the proposal. ### Right - The right-rated report from Tennessee Star led with the announcement that the Trump administration "will propose to loosen restrictions that rein in methane from oil and gas production." The report noted the EPA's statement that it "will propose changes to Biden-era regulations" in the coming days, including the repeal of a program that would require companies to address leaks. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 8 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 5 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [taxpayer.net](https://taxpayer.net/energy-natural-resources/tcs-statement-on-plans-to-weaken-methane-waste-standards-for-oil-and-gas-industry) — TCS Statement on Plans to Weaken Methane Waste Standards for Oil and Gas Industry - Taxpayers for Common Sense - [Hawaii Tribune-Herald](https://hawaiitribune-herald.com/2026/10/08/nation-world-news/us-will-rescind-policy-targeting-oil-and-gas-industry-methane-leaks) — US will rescind policy targeting oil and gas industry methane leaks - [World Oil](https://worldoil.com/news/2026/10/7/epa-to-propose-further-revisions-to-u-s-oil-and-gas-emissions-rules) — EPA to propose further revisions to U.S. oil and gas emissions rules - [quatrostrategies.ca](https://quatrostrategies.ca/washington-is-pulling-back-from-independent-methane-detection) — Washington is pulling back from independent methane detection - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/international/3988584-epa-says-will-soon-act-to-rescind-biden-policy-targeting-methane-leaks) — EPA says will soon act to rescind Biden policy targeting methane leaks - [The San Joaquin Valley Sun](https://sjvsun.com/u-s/u-s-to-scrap-biden-era-epa-policy-targeting-methane-leaks) — U.S. to scrap Biden-era EPA policy targeting methane leaks - [Common Dreams](https://commondreams.org/news/trump-epa-methane-rollback) — Trump 'Environmental Destruction Agency Continues Its Rampage' With Methane Pollution Rollback - [Source New Mexico](https://sourcenm.com/2026/10/07/epa-head-announces-oil-and-gas-emission-rules-rollbacks-during-visit-to-santa-fe) — EPA head announces oil and gas emission rules rollbacks during visit to Santa Fe - [Tennessee Star](https://tennesseestar.com/breaking/trump-to-propose-relaxing-methane-rules-for-oil-and-gas-industry/admin/2026/10/07) — Trump to Propose Relaxing Methane Rules for Oil and Gas Industry - [GreenLatinos](https://greenlatinos.org/la-epa-planea-debilitar-las-protecciones-contra-el-metano-aumentando-los-riesgos-para-las-comunidades-mas-afectadas) — EPA Plans to Weaken Methane Protections, Increasing Risks for the Most Affected Communities - GreenLatinosclosechevron-Downbars - [KRQE News 13](https://krqe.com/news/new-mexico/epa-administrator-announces-proposal-to-rollback-methane-emission-rules) — EPA administrator announces proposal to rollback methane emission rules - [lcv.org](https://lcv.org/media-center/epa-moves-to-weaken-protections-against-methane-pollution) — EPA moves to weaken protections against methane pollution - [washingtonsun.com](https://washingtonsun.com/energy/epa-methane-standards-roll-back-oil-gas) — EPA Plans to Roll Back Emissions Regulations for Oil and Gas Companies - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/6134812-trump-epa-methane-oil-and-gas-industry) — Trump to propose relaxing methane rules for oil and gas industry - [NRDC](https://nrdc.org/press-releases/epa-methane-statement-0) — Administrator Zeldin Announces Another Oil Industry Giveaway - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/10/07/epa-says-will-soon-act-to-rescind-biden-policy-targeting-methane-leaks) — EPA says will soon act to rescind Biden policy targeting methane leaks - [Bloomberg](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-07/trump-epa-readies-bid-to-weaken-methane-controls-for-oil-gas-companies) — EPA Readies Bid to Ease Methane Controls for Oil, Gas - [Colorado Public Radio](https://cpr.org/2026/10/07/trump-loosen-oil-gas-methane-standards) — Trump administration to loosen oil and gas methane ... - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/legal/government/epa-says-will-soon-act-rescind-biden-policy-targeting-methane-leaks-2026-10-07) — US will rescind policy targeting oil and gas industry ... ## Questions **What is the EPA proposing to change regarding oil and gas rules?** The US Environmental Protection Agency plans to propose changes to rules that target methane pollution from oil and gas operations. A key part of the proposal is rescinding the Biden-era Super Emitter Program, which allows third parties to identify and report major methane leaks. **How much money does the EPA claim the proposed changes will save?** EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the proposed changes to the oil and gas rules concerning methane pollution are expected to save $45 billion in regulatory costs. This figure was cited as a justification for the rollback. **What are environmental advocates saying about the EPA's announcement?** Environmental advocates have criticised the EPA's announcement, accusing the administration of prioritising fossil fuel interests over public health and the climate. They argue that weakening these protections will increase pollution and harm communities. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/epa-proposes-rollback-of-methane-rules-for-oil-and-gas. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "EPA proposes rollback of methane rules for oil and gas", https://mediabias.news/politics/epa-proposes-rollback-of-methane-rules-for-oil-and-gas