Federal Lands: "Methane Emissions Soar in Drilling Boom"

"WASHINGTON - Methane emissions from oil and gas wells on federal lands and waters jumped 135 percent from 2008 to 2013, an analysis shows, driven by a drilling boom in New Mexico and North Dakota that has outpaced the building of pipelines and processing centers.

The study, completed by Stratus Consulting for the Wilderness Society and the Center for American Progress, documented the uptick in methane being vented or burned as waste from wells on public lands and waters. Researchers used data from the Interior Department's Office of Natural Resources Revenue.

They reported a big jump in recent years, with methane emissions tied to venting and flaring on federal lands and waters rising 61 percent from 2010 to 2013. The study builds on a 2010 report from the Government Accountability Office that said 5 percent of all natural gas produced from federal lands and waters was wasted through venting and flaring."

Jennifer A. Dlouhy reports for the Houston Chronicle October 6, 2014.