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With crude oil prices hovering below the $50 a barrel range, consumers are relishing the lowest gasoline prices in years. In many locations, the price of unleaded regular has dropped below the $2 a gallon mark, allowing motorists to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets.

But lower crude prices could result in a decline of U.S. oil production, which has soared to more than 9.1 million barrels per day, the highest level in more than three decades. Lower oil prices cut into drillers’ profit margins, forcing them to rethink their production plans. One large integrated oil company already has announced layoffs, saying it might “trim [further] if that’s what we need in a new world” of substantially lower oil prices.

The last thing drillers need now is more EPA regulations that raise their costs. Yet, the EPA is poised to do just that. In coming days it will issue a “determination” about whether methane gas reduction regulations should continue to be voluntary or made mandatory under President Obama’s Methane Reduction Strategy. 

Environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), are pushing for strong methane regulations, but it’s not clear that new emissions-control requirements are justified. According to the EPA’s data, methane emissions from oil and gas systems have declined by 12 percent since 2011, despite the huge increase in drilling over the same time period.

In the Permian Basin, for example, oil and natural gas production has climbed by about 28 percent since 2011, but methane emissions have fallen by 9 percent. Likewise in the Eagle Ford formation, where production has grown by 450 percent since 2011, methane emissions have declined by 18 percent.

Given these results, one has to wonder whether the Obama Administration’s mandatory methane regulations are a policy in search of a problem. Or is politics the driving force behind new methane rules? To answer that question, consider the close relationship between President Obama’s EPA and the NRDC, which is one of the wealthiest and most influential environmental groups in Washington.

 As reported in July, the NRDC has been very involved in regulatory decisions at the EPA. One published report alleges that lobbyists tied to the environmental organization wrote the “blueprint” for the EPA’s carbon dioxide emissions regulations, which are aimed at eliminating the burning of coal at U.S. electricity-generating power plants. 

After the EPA promulgated the anti-coal regulations, the NRDC turned its attention to natural gas, which is supplanting coal as the fuel of choice for power generation.  Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), who has been following the cozy relationship between EPA and the NRDC, says, “The NRDC is now refocusing the EPA’s sights to take out natural gas by pushing harsh methane emissions mandates.” 

Sen. Inhofe also believes the Obama Administration and the NRDC are working together to inflate the price of fossil fuels. His theory comports with a comment made by candidate Obama in 2008, when he said electricity costs would need to “necessarily skyrocket” to meet his energy-related and climate goals. 

It’s hard to fathom a more cynical policy prescription than one in which the administration and an environmental group are scheming to cause economic harm to the American public. And it’s difficult to understand why the administration would take action to slow America’s energy boom which has created thousands of jobs and is helping the United States become more secure.

America is on the cusp of realizing the 40-year-old dream of becoming energy independent. Unfortunately, lower oil prices are beginning to erode U.S. oil and natural gas production progress. Additional federal regulations could further discourage domestic drilling.

Moreover, it’s not clear that more methane rules would significantly improve the environment.  Voluntary efforts and existing regulations already in place are working. According to an EPA report released in September, methane emissions from natural gas wells that have been hydraulically fractured have declined by 73 percent. 

The EPA and the NRDC should recognize this achievement and stop hindering America’s success.

Mauck, J.D. is publisher of EagleFordFordForum.com, GoHaynesvilleShale.com and GoMarcellusShale.com.