Methane Emissions Research Act of 2023

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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Methane Emissions Research Act of 2023 2. National methane research pilot study (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator (2) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress (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 (B) Exclusion The term covered oil and gas infrastructure (4) Methane census The term methane census (A) be undertaken on a recurring basis; and (B) encompass all 7 regions. (5) Pilot study The term pilot study (6) Region The term region (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.

Summary: Methane Emissions Research Act of 2023 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a methane research pilot study to quantify methane emissions from infrastructure used for the production, gathering and boosting, processing, transmission, and storage of oil and natural gas in the United States.