S. 1271 — Introduced in Senate

II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1271 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations to prevent or minimize the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations in the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fuel Loss Abatement and Royalty Enhancement Act or the FLARE Act. 2. Regulations to prevent or minimize venting and flaring of gas (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue regulations under this Act— (1) to prevent or minimize the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations on Federal land onshore and offshore in the United States; and (2) to promote the capture and beneficial use or reinjection of gas in the operations referred to in paragraph (1). (b) Royalties A regulation issued under this section shall include provisions that treat gas that is flared or vented in operations under a lease under this Act as production for which royalty is required to be paid to the United States. (c) Limitation on application to existing leases Regulations issued under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to production under a lease in effect on the date of enactment of this Act to the extent such application would constitute a breach of the terms of the lease by the United States. 3. Assessment of venting and flaring of gas in production operations in United States Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) assess the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations on Federal land onshore and offshore in the United States; and (2) submit to Congress a report on the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations on Federal land onshore and offshore in the United States, including an estimate of the volume of gas that is vented or flared in such operations each year. 4. Regulations The Secretary of the Interior shall issue regulations that define the terms vent, venting, flare, and flaring for purposes of this Act.