The House on Friday voted to restore Obama-era controls on methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector that had been partially rescinded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump administration.

methan emissions

The measure passed by a margin of 229-191 under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) after 52-42 passage by the Senate, and was expected to be signed by President Biden.

Resolutions under the CRA require only a simple majority to pass the Senate, and cannot be filibustered. 

The methane rules enacted in 2016 seek to reduce emissions of the potent greenhouse gas, along with smog-forming volatile organic compounds and toxic air pollutants such as benzene from oil and gas operations.

Methane is responsible for at least one-fourth of current global warming,...