U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to cut methane emissions from U.S. oil and natural gas production by almost one half over the next decade.

“The EPA’s proposal to curb methane emissions is unnecessary and will do more harm than good. It’s in everyone’s interest to reduce methane leakage. That’s one of the reasons why industry has taken steps to reduce methane emissions by 38 percent since 2005 while natural gas production has vastly increased,” Murkowski said. “Instead of more regulations that will only hurt production, the administration should follow the committee’s lead and promote bipartisan initiatives that focus on improving our energy infrastructure which is an important step forward to reducing methane leakage.”

Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is committed to advancing legislative initiatives that modernize our nation’s energy policies. In July, Murkowski along with the help of her ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., advanced the Energy Policy Modernization Act. In part, the legislation would reform the time-consuming permitting process for pipeline projects as they are one of the most efficient ways to transport natural gas.