Small Operators: The Backbone of American Energy – Why HCR 47 Matters

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In the rolling hills and established fields of Ohio, generations of small conventional oil and gas operators have quietly powered American homes, fueled our economy, and kept energy affordable and reliable. These aren’t the massive shale plays that dominate headlines. These are family-run businesses, marginal wells, and independent producers who punch above their weight—delivering steady production, supporting local jobs, and contributing to our nation’s energy security without fanfare.

But burdensome federal regulations threaten to snuff out that legacy. The Biden-era EPA methane rules were written with large-scale operations in mind, imposing one-size-fits-all compliance costs that smaller operators simply can’t absorb. Monitoring, reporting, equipment upgrades, and zero-emission mandates sound reasonable in Washington conference rooms, but on the ground in Ohio they translate into shutdowns, lost production, and family businesses forced to walk away from wells that have produced reliably for decades.

That’s why Ohio Representatives Adam Mathews and Ty Moore’s House Concurrent Resolution 47 is a breath of fresh air—and a much-needed defense of common sense.

HCR 47 urges the EPA to revisit and revise these federal methane regulations with practical, targeted changes that protect small producers without compromising environmental progress. Among the key requests:

Exemptions or workable pathways for truly low-production wells (such as those below reasonable thresholds like 20 tons per year of methane or ≤15 barrels of oil equivalent per day). These marginal wells aren’t the big emitters regulators often target, yet they face the same crushing burdens.
Proper classification of conventional operations as “small well sites,” recognizing they are nothing like massive unconventional developments.
Alaska-style flexibility for pneumatic controllers and equipment in areas with challenging conditions—no electricity, extreme cold, or remote locations—because what works in Texas or Pennsylvania doesn’t always translate to every corner of Ohio.
Relief that prevents regulators from treating hardworking independents the same as multinational giants.

As Rep. Mathews put it: “Ohio’s small conventional operators have kept American energy flowing for generations… This resolution simply asks the EPA to give our marginal wells a fair, workable path forward instead of regulating them out of existence.”

Rep. Moore echoed the practical reality: these businesses can continue operating, growing, and contributing to our communities while meeting responsible environmental standards—if given the regulatory breathing room they deserve.

This resolution aligns perfectly with President Trump’s April 2025 Executive Order directing federal agencies to slash unnecessary burdens on domestic energy production. It’s not about rolling back environmental stewardship. It’s about smart, tailored rules that recognize the diversity of America’s oil and gas industry. Small operators already plug and abandon wells responsibly, minimize emissions where feasible, and innovate daily just to stay in business. What they don’t need is paperwork and capital expenditures that make marginal wells uneconomic overnight.

For rural Ohio economies, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Every small operator kept in business means jobs for local roughnecks, truck drivers, service companies, and suppliers. It means continued royalty payments to landowners, tax revenue for schools and communities, and a stronger domestic supply that reduces reliance on foreign energy and strengthens national security.

America needs all of its producers—big and small—if we’re serious about energy dominance. Shutting down conventional wells doesn’t lower global emissions; it simply shifts production overseas where standards are often weaker.

HCR 47 sends a clear message from Ohio to the EPA: Protect the producers who built this industry. Support small business. Prioritize American energy. Our lawmakers deserve strong support for standing up for the men and women who keep the pumps running and the lights on.

The Crude Life will continue championing these operators—the true backbone of our industry. Let’s hope the EPA listens and delivers the common-sense revisions our small producers need to thrive for the next generation.

Small Operators: The Backbone of American Energy – Why HCR 47 Matters

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Author: jasonspiess

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