I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4072 
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to con-
duct a measurement-based national methane research pilot study to quan-
tify methane emissions from certain oil and gas infrastructure, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 13, 2023 
Mr. LIEU (for himself, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. STEVENS, Mrs. MCCLELLAN, Mr. 
CASTEN, Mrs. FOUSHEE, Ms. SALINAS, and Ms. LOFGREN) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology 
A BILL 
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency to conduct a measurement-based national meth-
ane 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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Methane Emissions 
Research Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. NATIONAL METHANE RESEARCH PILOT STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in collabora-
tion with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, and in consultation with the 
Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Administrator 
of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminis-
tration, the Director of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology, and the heads of other Federal 
agencies as appropriate, shall conduct a measurement- 
based national methane research pilot study (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘‘pilot study’’) to quantify methane 
emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure. The Ad-
ministrator shall employ a technology or suite of tech-
nologies for methane emissions measurement, research, 
and analysis. To the extent practicable, the Administrator 
shall consider utilizing innovative technologies for methane 
emissions measurement and quantification. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The pilot study shall— 
(1) encompass two regions, which shall be de-
termined by the Administrator; 
(2) identify areas consisting primarily of cov-
ered oil and gas infrastructure within each such re-
gion; 
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(3) develop and implement methodologies and 
procedures for a measurement-based evaluation of 
methane emissions from such infrastructure; 
(4) assess diverse approaches to the character-
ization of methane emissions from such infrastruc-
ture; and 
(5) consult with Federal, State, local, academic, 
nonprofit, and private sector entities, as appropriate. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make 
publicly available, a report assessing the results of the 
pilot study. The report shall include the following: 
(1) An overview of the findings of the pilot 
study pertaining to the quantification and character-
ization of methane emissions from covered oil and 
gas infrastructure. 
(2) An analysis of how the pilot study could 
support and inform the development and implemen-
tation of a national methane census study (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘methane census’’), to be 
undertaken on a recurring basis and encompass all 
seven regions. Such analysis shall also examine the 
following: 
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