The Supreme Court leaves two Biden administration environmental regulations in place

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday left in force two Biden administration environmental regulations aimed at curbing industry emissions of greenhouse gases: methane and toxic mercury.

The justices did not detail their reasoning in orders issued after a flurry of motions to block the regulations from industry groups and Republican-leaning states. No objections were recorded.

The Supreme Court is still considering a challenge to a third regulation aimed at curbing planet-warming pollution from coal-fired power plants.

The regulations are part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to curb climate change, including financial incentives for electric vehicle purchases and infrastructure upgrades.

Industry groups and states argued that the Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority and set unattainable standards. The EPA said these regulations are fully within its legal responsibilities and will protect the public.

The Supreme Court has struck down other environmental regulations in recent years, including a landmark decision limiting the EPA’s authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in 2022 and another that halted the agency’s “good neighbor” rule fighting air pollution.

Methane regulations impose new requirements on the oil and gas industry, which is the largest emitter of a gas that has a key impact on climate change. A lower court had previously refused to stay the regulation.

Methane is the main component of natural gas and is much more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. Sharply reducing methane emissions is a global priority to slow the pace of climate change.

Methane regulations apply to emissions from existing oil and gas wells across the country, rather than focusing solely on new wells. It also regulates the smaller drilling that will be needed to find and patch methane leaks.

Studies have shown that smaller wells produce just 6% of national oil and gas demand, but account for up to half of methane emissions from drilling sites. The plan also calls for phasing in a requirement for energy companies to eliminate the routine burning of natural gas extracted from new oil wells.

States challenging the rule called the new standards “impossible to meet” and said they amounted to an “attack” on the industry.

Meanwhile, the mercury rule was introduced after reversing a move by the Trump administration. It updated regulations that have been in force for over a decade regarding the emission of mercury and other harmful pollutants that may affect the nervous system, kidneys and fetal development.

Industry groups and conservative-leaning states argued that emissions were already low enough and the new standards could force the closure of coal-fired power plants.

The EPA said the updates were needed to protect public health.