"The methane waste reduction standards are a step in the right direction to make sure that our nation’s public natural gas resources located within taxpayer-owned federal lands are not being wasted and that we mitigate the effects of poor air quality on our communities.

“A recent NASA study discovered that oil and gas operations were largely responsible for a methane cloud the size of Delaware hovering over the Four Corners region in the West. Coupled with the Clean Air Task Force report that more than 1.81 million Latinos live within a half-mile of existing oil and gas facilities and are disproportionately exposed to the health risks of methane and other pollutants, it’s clear that we need tougher action to curb waste.

“We have a moral obligation to protect our cherished outdoor heritage, clean up our air, and ensure that our communities and children are protected from human-caused public health issues that we can knowingly prevent. There is no excuse to not modernize oil and gas development, especially when our health and safety hangs in the balance. And if the resulting changes equal hundreds of millions of dollars in savings -- oil and gas companies operating on federal and tribal lands are wasting more than $330 million worth of natural gas nationwide each year -- we can invest in improving health outcomes and community infrastructure.”

Since its founding in 2010, HAF has made building environmental awareness among Latinos, going outdoors and empowering advocates a top priority, including the groundbreaking formation of Por La Creación Faith-Based Alliance and the launch of Latino Conservation Week.