The U.S. Interior Department needs to take steps to ensure gas associated with produced reserves isn't wasted, or flared, bicameral leaders said.
House and Senate Democrats issued a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewel urging her to review a report from the Government Accountability Office finding federal standards on gas capturing are behind the curve.
The letter states most of the gas vented from federal lands is methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
"Eliminating this waste not only would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to removing some 3.1 million cars from the road, but would generate $23 million annual for the [federal government]," the letter read.
Jewell said in March her agency would propose "in the coming months" standards meant to cut emissions and reduce the amount of gas wasted during flaring.
While the Interior Department will do its part, the secretary said part of the onus lies with industry and state leaders. Many of the regulations on the books are the same as the ones in place when she was working in the private energy sector more than 30 years ago, she added.
An editorial from reporting agency Energy Intelligence said taking advantage of what's known in the industry as associated gas requires major infrastructure investments.
"Governments also are responsible for regulating and imposing fines on gas flaring, but they are often lax," it said. "If no serious costs are imposed by the state for flaring, the competitive nature of the industry encourages companies to flare in order to maximize current income at the expense of future energy supplies and future global warming."
