Company: L
Filing Date: 2025-02-11
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000060086-25-000036
Chunk: 216

Company: LOEWS CORP
Filing Date: 2025-02-11
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 216
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 risks regarding climate change.

The threat of climate change continues to attract considerable attention in the U.S. and in other countries. Numerous proposals have been made and could continue to be made at the international, national, regional, state and local levels of government to monitor, limit and eliminate both existing and future emissions of GHGs. These proposals expose Boardwalk Pipelines’ operations as well as the operations of its fossil fuel producer customers to a series of regulatory, political, litigation and financial risks.

In the U.S., no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented at the federal level. Although the Biden Administration has taken legislative, regulatory and executive action to address climate change, policy priorities, such as climate change, are likely to change with the new presidential administration. For example, in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) passed, which advanced numerous climate-related objectives, including a methane emissions fee that applies to excess methane emissions from certain facilities that starts at $900 per metric ton of leaked methane in 2024 and increases to $1,200 in 2025 and $1,500 in 2026 and thereafter. In November 2024, the EPA issued a final rule implementing the methane emissions fee; however, Boardwalk Pipelines cannot predict if Congress may take action to repeal or revise the IRA, with respect to the methane emissions fee. Additionally, the EPA regulates GHGs, including methane and carbon dioxide, under the CAA and has implemented various permitting, reporting and technology-based requirements to reduce GHG emissions by the oil and gas sectors. In December 2023, the EPA finalized its methane rules for new, modified, and reconstructed facilities, known as OOOOb, as well as standards for existing sources for the first time ever, known as OOOOc. Under the final rules, states have two years to prepare and submit their plans to impose methane emission controls on existing sources. The presumptive standards established under the final rules include advanced monitoring to encourage the deployment of innovative technologies to detect and reduce methane emissions, reduction of emissions by 95% through capture and control systems, zero-emission requirements for certain devices, and the establishment of the "super emitter" response program that would allow third parties to make reports to the EPA of large methane emission events. Fines and penalties for violations of these rules can be substantial and compliance with the new rules may affect the amount Boardwalk Pipelines owes under the IRA. The EPA's final methane rules are currently being challenged by 23 states and