I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1217 
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to address measuring methane 
emissions, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2025 
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. DELUZIO) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to address 
measuring methane emissions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Orphan Well Grant 
Flexibility Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. PRE-PLUGGING METHANE EMISSIONS FOR GRANT 
ELIGIBILITY. 
Section 349 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15907) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (c)(2), by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(C) ACTIVITIES NOT REQUIRED.—Noth-
ing in this section requires a State to measure 
methane emissions or conduct other activities 
described in subparagraph (A), which are activi-
ties a State may conduct but is not required to 
conduct, as a condition of eligibility for a grant 
under this subsection.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)(2), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, which may include 
estimates derived from pre-plugging or post-plugging 
monitoring data that States may, but are not re-
quired to, collect using funding from grants awarded 
under this section,’’ after ‘‘estimate’’. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL ACADEMIES STUDY ON COMMUNITY IM-
PACT OF ORPHANED WELL GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall— 
(1) seek to enter into an agreement with the 
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine under which the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall carry out 
a study on the effect of the plugging and remedi-
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ation activity conducted under section 349 of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15907) on 
economic development, housing trends, and other po-
tential benefits (such as improvements in water 
quality) in areas where the plugging and remediation 
activity conducted under that section reclaimed a 
high number of sites, as determined by the National 
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; 
and 
(2) to the maximum extent practicable, provide 
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, 
and Medicine with information necessary to carry 
out the study described in paragraph (1). 
(b) KEY
INPUTS.—The National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall ensure that at 
least 1 State from each region of the United States 
(Northeast, Southwest, West, Southeast, and Midwest) 
shall be key inputs to the study carried out under sub-
section (a). 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study under 
subsection (a), the National Academies of Sciences, Engi-
neering, and Medicine shall consult with— 
(1) the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment, with respect to— 
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(A) how the plugging and remediation ac-
tivity conducted under section 349 of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15907) has 
affected economic development and housing 
trends; and 
(B) how data on locations of plugging and 
remediation priorities from the Department of 
the Interior may be valuable to the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development; 
(2) the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Com-
mission, to provide data required to carry out the 
study under subsection (a); and 
(3) other Federal agencies, as determined by 
the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with 
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, 
and Medicine. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date on which the last grant is awarded under section 349 
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15907), the 
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medi-
cine shall submit to Congress a report detailing the find-
ings of the study carried out under subsection (a). 
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