Methane Emissions Research Act of 2022
Bill: S.5214 | Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff (D-OR)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Methane Emissions Research Act of 2022
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.

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 
2022''.

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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