This week, a federal judge in Wyoming stayed implementation of an Obama-era methane emissions rule. The Obama methane rule south to limit methane emissions from oil and gas projects by reducing leaking, flaring, and venting of natural gas in drilling operations. The Trump administration has moved to roll back the Obama methane rule, and in his opinion, Judge Scott W. Skavdahl noted that forcing “temporary compliance with those provisions makes little sense and provides minimal public benefit, while significant resources may be unnecessarily expended.”

Kathleen Sgamma, President of the Western Energy Alliance, which requested a preliminary injunction from the Wyoming court, stated that “the Wyoming judge found a practical solution,” and praised the decision for recognizing that coming into compliance takes time and the methane rule is being significantly rewritten, so requiring compliance for a short period of time makes no sense.

Environmentalist groups have indicated they will appeal the decision. Peter Zalzal, lead attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund, stated that the EDF finds Judge Skavdahl’s decision “deeply problematic,” and emphasized that the while the court suspended the Obama methane rule, it did not find that it was unlawful.

Public comment on revisions to the Waste Prevention Rule closes April 23, 2018.