WASTE NOT

The report advocates for the EPA to establish direct methane standards for the oil and gas industry, which it identifies as the largest industrial source of methane in the U.S. It proposes three primary control measures: regular leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, upgrading older compressors and pneumatic equipment, and capturing gas from wells. The authors argue these measures are low-cost, commercially available, and would reduce methane emissions by 3.2 to 3.7 million metric tons per year, while also significantly lowering volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic air pollutants.

• The oil and gas industry is the largest industrial source of methane in the United States and the second largest industrial contributor to overall climate pollution. While the EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks estimates annual leaks and intentional releases at almost eight million metric tons, independent research suggests actual emissions could be twice as high.
• Implementing nationwide methane standards targeting three specific areas could reduce the sector's methane pollution by an estimated 3.2 to 3.7 million metric tons per year: 1. Regular leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs at wellpads, processing plants, compressor stations, and distribution facilities could reduce pollution by 1,700,000 to 1,800,000 metric tons per year. 2. Upgrading older compressors and gas-driven pneumatic equipment could reduce pollution by 1,200,000 to 1,350,000 metric tons per year. 3. Capturing gas from oil and gas wells instead of venting or flaring could reduce pollution by 260,000 to 500,000 metric tons per year.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2014). WASTE NOT. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/21094425/CATF_Pub_WasteNot_Summary.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. WASTE NOT. 2014. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/21094425/CATF_Pub_WasteNot_Summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=WASTE NOT |date=November 2014 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/21094425/CATF_Pub_WasteNot_Summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2014waste, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{WASTE NOT}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2014}, month = nov, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/21094425/CATF_Pub_WasteNot_Summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }