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WHEREAS, methane, the main component of natural gas, is a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than carbon dioxide; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the second largest producer of natural gas in the nation and is responsible for a roughly one percent of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, the oil and gas industry leaks or intentionally flares methane into our air every day from wells, pipelines, and other oil and gas infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, methane leakage represents a public health hazard, waste of a valuable energy resource, and threatens our climate; and
WHEREAS, data for 2014 and 2015 that was self-reported by the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania shows a 20 percent increase in methane emissions; and
WHEREAS, proven, readily available, and cost-effective technologies for reducing methane emissions already exist; and
WHEREAS, new plans at the state level were introduced to address methane emissions from new oil and gas operations; and
WHEREAS, the state level requirements for companies to use Best Available Technology (BAT) will control 98% of methane emissions; and
WHEREAS, reducing methane emissions will also reduce other hazardous air emissions from oil and gas wells and pipelines, reducing health problems such as asthma attacks and cancer; and
WHEREAS, requiring companies to reduce methane leakage and deliver more gas to consumers will help strengthen the local economy and enhance a developing job market; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh supports the proposed measures by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to reduce methane from oil and gas operations; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh encourages strengthening of the proposed measures beyond what is currently being proposed by requiring leak detection and repair surveys to be done monthly instead of quarterly; removing a provision that allows operators to de...
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