Washington (CNN) The Environmental Protection Agency released a proposal Tuesday that relaxes requirements for how energy companies monitor and repair methane leaks, rolling back an Obama-era regulation.

The draft proposal on the EPA's website , which will be published in the Federal Register, would weaken a 2016 rule requiring energy companies to conduct leak inspections on their drilling equipment as regularly as every six months.

Under the EPA's proposal, companies would perform a leak inspection at least once a year, in most cases, and every two years for low-producing oil and gas wells.

Oil and gas drillers are currently required to fix methane leaks within 30 days, but the new rules give a company 60 days to fix leaks.

The move from the EPA would make it easier for oil and gas companies to release methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that scientists say contributes to global warming.

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