IPANM (July 30, 2026) IPANM has filed strong, formal public comments against the New Mexico Environment Department’s  newly proposed “air rule” for Methane Abatement.

The rule (20.2.51 NMAC), announced on July 17, 2026:

• establishes a methane super-emitter program that allows certified third-party notifiers to report large, uncontrolled methane releases detected via satellite, aircraft, or other remote sensing technologies, with owners and operators required to investigate and repair any leak within 50 meters of a detected event; and,
• imposes a zero-methane-emission standard beginning in 2031 for natural gas-driven pneumatic controllers at well sites, gathering stations, processing plants, and compressor stations.

Comments were required to be filed on July 29, 2026, a deadline that IPANM met thanks to the cooperation of many companies’ input. It was a major lift to turnaround a mere 12 days after the complex rule was posted for the first time.

To summarize our comments, IPANM opposes New Mexico’s proposed Methane Abatement Rule (20.2.51 NMAC) on legal, technical, economic, and procedural grounds. The rule was:

1. drafted without industry input;
2. published with only a 12-day comment window;
3. lacks any supporting cost-benefit analysis or technical data showing existing regulations are inadequate;
4. it redundantly layers onto already the nation’s most stringent state methane framework;
5. threatens the economic viability of independent operators and marginal wells; and,
6. contains operationally unachievable provisions — including a 3-calendar-day repair deadline and a zero-emission pneumatic controller mandate by 2031.

IPANM had requested NMED pause the rulemaking, extend the comment period, and convene a proper technical stakeholder process before proceeding.

The full filing can be reviewed by clicking below:

IPANM’s Public Comments Against Methane Abatement Rule

NMED plans to petition the Environmental Improvement Board to adopt the rule on August 12, 2026, with a public hearing anticipated to begin around December 7, 2026. This is unthinkably fast (especially for government) and is being rushed to be complete by the end of the Lujan Grisham administration. It’s also a tactic being used to weaponize the state government against the federal government in an effort “Trump” proof the sensible new changes to previous BLM and EPA’s Biden-era methane rules.

IPANM would like to thank the Executive Board, member companies, and Hinkle Shanor LLP for assembling our comments in a short time period.