The administrator of Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt withdrew a reporting requirement on 2nd March 2017. It was regarding the oil and natural gas industry submitted in the Obama administration. Point to be noted that he had issued a notice to the industry asking for their response about a survey regarding the production of methane in their drilling operations, which was no longer needed. It has been considered one of the final environmental acts by the Obama administration. It was presented to inform the future regulations for implementation of limitations for the release of methane (a potentially greenhouse gas). The Agency (EPA) forwarded at least 15 thousand letters to owners and operators in the oil and gas industry in the year 2016.
The letters sent by EPA were requiring from them to provide information regarding “methane emissions and other operational data”. Now, EPA has pulled out both these parts from its information request. The Energy & Environment News also reported that the request of asking information has been considered a part of a massive-scale effort announced by the EPA under the Obama administration in the month of May 2016. A story published on 3rd March 2017 regarding the change of course by EPA. The Inside Climate News mentioned that the motivation of Obama administration was far behind from the original direction. A lawyer specialized in environmental regulation at Bracewell LLP said about the report of 12th May 2016 that the industry has been voluntarily reducing its methane emissions, so there is no need for requiring such information.