EPA Pipeline Rule Comments

Reference the Proposed Rule by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Colleagues:

I write as cofacilitator of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN), an organization of over 2,000 rural Southern Oregonians who are concerned about the climate crisis and urge statewide action to address it. The mission of SOCAN is to promote awareness and understanding of the science of global warming and its climate chaos consequences and stimulate individual and collective action to address it. Since rural Oregonians occupy the frontlines in experiencing the impact of the drought, shrinking snowpack, wildfires and extreme weather that the climate crisis imposes, we are strongly committed to statewide action.

We are well aware that the oft-publicized claims of the methane (natural) gas companies is that their fossil fuel is ‘the clean fossil fuel.’ Because of the leakage that results from fracking, through processing and transmission of this fuel, and the fact that methane is over 80 times worse than carbon dioxide on a 20-year basis, we all know that this claim is false.  Given that a substantial proportion of the methane leakage for which this sector is responsible results from pipeline leakage, especially at compressor station, it is incumbent upon us all to encourage the inspection of pipelines and the immediate repair of any found faulty.

While it would be optimal to wean ourselves completely from methane gas, in the meantime, we at SOCAN encourage the EPA in its proposal to increase the inspection of pipelines and the implementation of enforcement requirements on those companies found responsible for the leakage.

Respectfully Submitted.

Alan Journet Ph.D

Cofacilitator,
|Southern Oregon Climate Action Now