Washington, DC – Taxpayers for Common Sense praised the outcome of today’s attempted repeal the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) methane waste rule.

The Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval failed by a vote of 49-51.

“This is a win for taxpayers and common sense. We have known about the problem of wasted gas from federal lands for years, and the BLM finally did something about it by updating rules dating back to the Reagan administration when fracking didn’t exist. If Congress had repealed the rule, it would have meant more waste and more losses,” said Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander

The BLM, the only agency with the authority to charge royalties on lost methane gas—estimated at $50 million a year, an amount that will likely increase as production continues to grow and natural gas prices increase from their historic lows—has already indicated its intention to review the BLM rule pursuant to an Executive Order issued by President Trump.

“Our hope is that any future revisions to this rule will only strengthen protections for taxpayers and limits on waste of this valuable public asset,” said Alexander. “As we face many budgetary challenges, neither Congress nor the administration should allow taxpayer resources to be wasted and lost.”

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Taxpayers for Common Sense is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan budget watchdog that serves as an independent voice for American taxpayers. Our mission is to ensure that the federal government spends taxpayer dollars responsibly and operates within its means.