[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1947 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1947
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
conduct a measurement-based national methane research pilot study to
quantify methane emissions from certain oil and gas infrastructure, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 13, 2023
Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Padilla, and Mr.
Heinrich) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
conduct a measurement-based national methane research pilot study to
quantify methane emissions from certain oil and gas infrastructure, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Methane Emissions Research Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL METHANE RESEARCH PILOT STUDY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Environment and Public Works
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives.
(3) Covered oil and gas infrastructure.--
(A) In general.--The term ``covered oil and gas
infrastructure'' means the infrastructure used for the
production, gathering and boosting, processing,
transmission, and storage of oil and natural gas in the
United States.
(B) Exclusion.--The term ``covered oil and gas
infrastructure'' does not include oil and gas
distribution infrastructure.
(4) Methane census.--The term ``methane census'' means a
national methane census study to evaluate methane emissions
from covered oil and gas infrastructure that, if carried out,
would--
(A) be undertaken on a recurring basis; and
(B) encompass all 7 regions.
(5) Pilot study.--The term ``pilot study'' means the
measurement-based national methane research pilot study
required under subsection (b).
(6) Region.--The term ``region'' means any of the 7 oil and
gas regions evaluated in the July 2022 Drilling Productivity
Report of the Energy Information Administration.
(b) Pilot Study Required.--The Administrator, in consultation with
the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the Administrator of the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, and the heads of other Federal
agencies as the Administrator determines appropriate, shall conduct a
measurement-based national methane research pilot study to quantify
methane emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure.
(c) Requirements.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot study, the
Administrator shall--
(A) select 2 regions within which to carry out the
pilot study;
(B) identify areas consisting primarily of covered
oil and gas infrastructure within each region selected
under subparagraph (A);
(C) develop and implement methodologies and
procedures for a measurement-based evaluation of
methane emissions from the covered oil and gas
infrastructure described in subparagraph (B);
(D) assess diverse approaches to the
characterization of methane emissions from the covered
oil and gas infrastructure described in subparagraph
(B); and
(E) consult with Federal, State, local, academic,
nonprofit, and private sector entities, as appropriate.
(2) Technologies.--In carrying out the pilot study, the
Administrator shall--
(A) employ a technology or suite of technologies
for methane emissions measurement, research, and
analysis; and
(B) to the extent practicable, consider using
innovative technologies for methane emissions
measurement and quantification.
(d) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees
of Congress, and make publicly available, a report assessing the
results of the pilot study, which shall include--
(1) an overview of the findings of the pilot study with
respect to the quantification and characterization of methane
emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure;
(2) an analysis of how the pilot study could support and
inform the development and implementation of a methane census,
which shall include an analysis of--
(A) the feasibility of evaluating the amount of
methane emissions from covered oil and gas
infrastructure by region, industry segment, type of
emission source, or any other criterion, as a component
of a methane census;
(B) the necessary scope of measurement-based
activities within regions in order to carry out a
methane census;
(C) any onshore or offshore gaps within the scope
of the pilot study that could merit inclusion as a part
of a methane census;
(D) the estimated budget that would be required to
oversee a methane census; and
(E) any other relevant topic, as determined by the
Administrator;
(3) an analysis of how the measurement-based evaluation of
methane emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure, as
completed by the pilot study or contemplated for a methane
census, could support efforts to reconcile data generated by
top-down methods and bottom-up methods of analysis of methane
emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure with respect
to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks of
the Environmental Protection Agency, which shall include an
analysis of--
(A) how methane emissions data from the pilot study
or a methane census could be used as a part of a
reconciliation process to better understand and improve
data estimates from both top-down methods and bottom-up
methods of analysis of methane emissions from covered
oil and gas infrastructure;
(B) how methane emissions data from the pilot study
or a methane census could identify and help to explore
any significant discrepancies between top-down methods
and bottom-up methods of analysis of methane emissions
from covered oil and gas infrastructure; and
(C) any other relevant topic, as determined by the
Administrator;
(4) a description of any research or technology gaps that
were identified during the course of the pilot study and could
merit additional study to support the improvement of methane
emissions measurement and quantification; and
(5) a description of the methodology of the pilot study
that, to the greatest extent practicable and consistent with
appropriate protections for confidential business information
and intellectual property, as determined by the Administrator,
includes a discussion of--
(A) study design;
(B) measurement techniques;
(C) efforts to account for additional significant
sources of methane emissions within a region; and
(D) assumptions and uncertainties in the results of
the pilot study.
(e) Methane Emissions Data Interoperability.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator, to the greatest extent
practicable, shall ensure that all data collected as part of
the pilot study adheres to data and metadata standards
determined appropriate by the Administrator to support the
public findability, accessibility, interoperability, and
reusability of those data.
(2) Consultation.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Administrator shall consult with the heads of other Federal
agencies, as appropriate--
(A) to facilitate effective data sharing regarding
methane emissions measurement and quantification data;
and
(B) to ensure that methane emissions measurement
and quantification data gathered by those other Federal
agencies can be converted to a format that is
consistent with the methodologies and procedures of the
pilot study.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
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