Reports Say EPA Employees are Being Informally Told Not to Enforce Rules Against Oil Firms

Different sources have revealed that employees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are being told not to enforce regulations against oil companies. This instruction, which sources note was verbally issued, comes as pressure to reduce scrutiny of the industry mounts within the agency. 

These efforts to decrease enforcement align with deregulation policies being authorized by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, at the bidding of President Donald Trump who pledged to increase production for the oil and gas industry. 

Thus far, the agency has eased pollution and climate rules finalized under President Biden’s tenure, especially those that kept fossil fuel emissions in check. A couple of days ago, Zeldin revoked a regulation reducing climate pollution limits from gas and coal-fired power plants and recommended that limits of air toxins be decreased. 

It doesn’t help that the agency’s enforcement office has lost its bite after its staff were reduced at the environmental division under the Department of Justice. 

Officials at the agency reveal that the reduced focus on violations involving oil firms began just weeks after Trump got into office, with managers noting that cases involving this industry were less likely to advance. Data analyzed by the Environmental Integrity Project shows that since the president began his second term, the number of enforcement cases closed or initiated has reduced by over 30% compared to the first 3 months of Biden’s administration. 

At the agency’s Region 5 office, which is in charge of half a dozen states in the Midwest, enforcement officials were notified that enforcement on oil and gas had been halted. 

Since then, officers weren’t able to forward requests for data to oil firms suspected of pollution or give notices of violation. Violation notices are issued prior to suing a firm for allegedly violating environmental regulations. 

These changes also seem to be in line with a memo issued by Jeffrey Hall, who was the agency’s acting enforcement chief a few months ago. In the memo, staff were told to consult with officials appointed by Trump before they issued any violations. They were also told to stop clamping down on methane leak violations from gas and oil operations. 

Region 5 comprises of production sites like the biggest BP refinery globally; the Whiting refinery, and states like Ohio, which made up roughly 5% of the country’s marketed natural gas last year. 

Enforcement has also been halted in the neighboring region, which comprises of active gas and oil producing states like New Mexico, Louisiana and Texas. A source revealed that while violation notices are still being issued, none of these cases are progressing, with requesting data from gas and oil firms suspected of thwarting regulations prompting inquiry. 

Entities like GEMXX Corp. (OTC: GEMZ) with oil and gas interests in Latin America will be watching whether the changes in regulating the industry within U.S. borders will trigger similar changes in other jurisdictions. 

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GEMXX Corp. (OTC: GEMZ) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GEMZ 

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