US environmental regulators consider not regulating new oil and gas pollution sources

The US environmental regulators are proposing two ways to handle pollution from oil and gas facilities that they do not currently regulate. One option is to do nothing, arguing they are not required to regulate these new sources. The other option is to set new pollution limits for these previously unregulated sources, like certain storage tanks and pumps.

For years, environmental rules have focused on existing, known sources of pollution. This proposal highlights a critical gap: what happens when new types of pollution sources emerge, or when old sources were simply overlooked? The decision here will determine whether the environmental regulators must actively address these new or previously ignored emissions, or if they can choose to defer action. This could set a precedent for how future pollution sources are handled across various industries.