By: Tracy Sabetta, Ohio field organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: November 30, 2021
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0317
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Good afternoon. My name is Tracy Sabetta, and I am the state field organizer for Moms Clean Air Force in Columbus, Ohio, and the mother of one daughter.
I support the proposed EPA methane rules and urge you to finalize the strongest and most comprehensive methane rules to protect children’s health from all sources of oil and gas methane pollution, including small wells and routine flaring.
Adopting rules to limit methane pollution would have a profound impact on states like Ohio. We are currently home to more than 103,000 oil and gas production facilities. We rank first in the nation for total residents living within a half mile of these facilities and second for total students attending a school, daycare, or college within a half mile. Increased methane pollution is hitting us here at home and bringing along its own costs.
The most severe impact currently being seen is a rise in overnight temperatures. Columbus had 20 days this summer where the temperature hit or exceeded 90 degrees, above normal for June through August, reflecting many nights when morning readings didn’t drop below the low 70s. These overnight temperatures broke records in four major Ohio cities, with Toledo, Akron, Mansfield, and Findlay setting records for average minimum summer temperature. These rising temperatures have a stark impact on cooling systems, electric bills, and people’s health.
The proposed rules include an important step forward in reducing methane and other harmful air pollutants by including both new and existing oil and gas operations. Still, the proposal does not go far enough to address pollution from unlit flares or require regular monitoring at smaller, leak prone wells. Flaring emits pollutants that impact the health of nearby communities and contributes to climate change, making the inclusion of a flaring prohibition critical in the final rule. Also, hundreds of thousands of wells across the country generate a tiny amount of usable product but are disproportionate emitters of methane. Under this current proposal, a loophole would exempt wells from regular methane leak monitoring and repair. These small wells can be just as prone to equipment failures and be big emitters. That is why all wells, including the smaller ones, need to have frequent inspections under the rule.
When I started working with Moms Clean Air Force in 2011, my daughter was only 12 years old. I jumped at the chance to make a different for her future and her health. Now, 10 years later, I wonder if I have actually done enough. She will graduate from the Ohio State University in just 19 days with a degree in chemistry. She wonders how much value we place on science these days and if her work will be taken seriously. I am hoping that you will take the science seriously and help all of us out here fighting for our kids every day. You have the power to make the difference on this one.
On behalf of the more than 85,000 members of Moms Clean Air Force in Ohio, thank you again for the opportunity to offer remarks today. We urge you to finalize the strongest and most comprehensive methane rules to protect children’s health from all sources of oil and gas methane pollution, including small wells and routine flaring.