Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are pointing to a hot spot of the potent global-warming gas methane over part of the American Southwest, saying federal officials need to move quickly on upcoming standards for curbing waste in oil and gas production.
The Democratic members of the delegation sent a letter to the federal Office of Management and Budget on Monday. They're asking for prompt consideration of new rules being developed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Environmental Protection Agency.
They argue that natural gas resources are going to waste through venting, flaring and leaks and that's leading to tens of millions of dollars in lost revenues for states and the federal government.
They're also concerned about methane pollution over the San Juan Basin.
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