Nottinghamshire Fire Service Faces Challenges, EPA Targets Methane Emissions
The EPA's proposal is part of a broader effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service's recruitment efforts, on the other hand, highlight the challenges faced by emergency services in rural areas, where on-call firefighters are essential to maintaining emergency cover.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is struggling to meet its annual target for on-call firefighters, with availability averaging 83.8% across the county, below the 85% target, while the US Environmental Protection Agency proposes a new rule to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
The Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service attributes the shortfall to low recruitment and retention, particularly in rural areas, where on-call firefighters are crucial to emergency cover. The service is introducing new contracts and recruitment efforts to boost numbers and meet the target by next year. On-call firefighters, who work part-time and live close to stations, play a vital role in ensuring emergency cover, especially in rural areas.
In a separate development, the US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a new rule to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations, including wells, pipelines, and processing plants. The rule aims to cut methane emissions by 75% from 2012 levels by 2030, with the EPA estimating that methane emissions from these operations account for about 30% of total US methane emissions.
The proposed rule has been welcomed by environmental groups, who see it as a crucial step towards reducing methane emissions and addressing climate change. However, industry groups have expressed concerns about the potential costs and impacts of the proposed rule, including increased costs for companies and potential job losses. The public comment period for the proposed rule is open until April 13.