EPA Official in Charge of Methane Regs Wrote Oil Industry Argument Against Them (propublica.org)

ProPublica reports that EPA air official Aaron Szabo, who now leads efforts to loosen methane regulations, had previously helped draft a 2022 oil-industry letter opposing methane controls. The article says Szabo later pushed for delays and revisions to the Biden-era methane rules and solicited industry input, including specific regulatory language, through meetings and internal communications. Critics argue his prior lobbying suggests the EPA is being influenced by oil and gas interests while methane rules that would cut emissions are being weakened.