{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-welcomes-epa-guidance-providing-certainty-north-dakota-energy", "Fedorchak welcomes EPA guidance providing certainty for North Dakota energy producers", "2026-05-01", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Julie Fedorchak", "F000482", "fedorchak.house.gov", "fedorchak", "https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Bismarck, ND \u2013 Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today welcomed new guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clarifying that oil and natural gas producers may continue limited routine flaring at new wells in certain circumstances beyond the May 7, 2026, phaseout deadline. The clarification comes just days after Fedorchak raised concerns directly with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin during an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing about the impact of the rule on North Dakota producers.\n\n\u201cThis is exactly the kind of clarity North Dakota producers needed. Without action, up to 40,000 barrels a day could have been shut in across our state,\u201d Fedorchak said. \u201cThank you to Administrator Zeldin for stepping in to correct unworkable regulations from the previous administration with a more practical, commonsense approach. This guidance provides certainty for operators facing circumstances beyond their control and ensures we can keep producing the reliable, affordable energy Americans depend on.\u201d\n\nImage\n\nEPA\u2019s guidance reaffirms that existing regulations already provide flexibility for producers to continue flaring in limited, scenario-specific cases, such as when infrastructure constraints or other external factors prevent immediate compliance. The agency emphasized that the action does not change the underlying rule but clarifies how it should be applied to avoid unnecessary production shut ins.\n\n\u201cAmerica already produces energy better and cleaner than anywhere else in the world. That should not stop,\u201d said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. \u201cEPA is providing certainty that oil operators and owners already have the flexibility under our regulations to navigate situations beyond their control and continue unleashing American energy. In doing so, the Trump EPA is advancing American energy dominance and lowering energy costs across the nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe world needs more American energy, and we\u2019re delivering it responsibly,\u201d said Secretary of the Department of Energy Chris Wright. \u201cThis action gives operators the certainty they need to keep producing while continuing to reduce emissions. Forcing unnecessary shut-ins doesn\u2019t reduce demand, it just raises prices and shifts production elsewhere.\u201d\n\nThe clarification is expected to allow for the continued production of tens of thousands of barrels of oil per day nationwide, helping stabilize supply and keep energy costs affordable for American families.\n\nEPA\u2019s guidance can be found here.", 1, "2026-05-23T06:08:46Z", "2026-05-23T06:10:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-welcomes-epa-guidance-providing-certainty-north-dakota-energy"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.113552065566182, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}