,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bhja ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #bb1 #bjba ,mr4 ,peters introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish a durable framework for achieving long-term reductions in methane emissions from the oil and gas sector through advanced detection1 measurement1 and abatement technologies and practices1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,methane ,emissions ,technology to ,help ,achieve ,net-zero ,emissions ,act of #bjba or the ,,methane ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,covered facility ,the term covered facility means a facility on the list in effect under section #c7;a74 7#c7 ,emissions reduction target ,the term emissions reduction target means the aggregate level of methane intensity of the regulated segments corresponding to a reduction of total methane emissions by #ij percent by #bjcj1 relative to #bjae levels4 7#d7 ,methane intensity ,the term methane intensity means the unitless ratio of methane emissions to the methane content of natural gas throughput4 7#e7 ,regulated segment ,the term regulated segment means each of the segments described in section #ih4bcj7;a7 of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#f7 ,routine flaring ,the term routine flaring-- 7,a7 means flaring of natural gas during normal oil and natural gas production operations in the absence of sufficient facilities to reinject the produced gas1 utilize it onsite1 or dispatch it to a market2 and 7,b7 excludes flaring of natural gas that is required to ensure safe operation of the covered facility due to an unforeseen condition4 #c4 ,methane intensity standards 7a7 ,list of covered facilities 7#a7 ,initial list ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall list the facilities that are subject to this ,act1 which shall include1 at a minimum1 the facilities that are subject to the requirements of section #ih4bcj7;a7 of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 ,review and revision ,the ,administrator shall periodically review and revise the list of covered facilities under this subsection as necessary to ensure sufficient coverage of methane emissions from the regulated segments to meet the emissions reduction target4 7b7 ,categorization of covered facilities and regulated emissions ,for purposes of establishing methane intensity standards under this section1 the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 group the types of covered facilities within a regulated segment into categories2 and 7#b7 base the standards on the types of methane emissions at the category of covered facility1 including vented emissions1 fugitive emissions1 and emissions from incomplete combustion4 7c7 ,establishment of standards 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish methane intensity standards for covered facilities in each of the regulated segments4 7#b7 ,initial standards ,not later than #d years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall establish the initial methane intensity standards required by paragraph 7#a74 ,such initial standards for each category of covered facilities shall-- 7,a7 be equal to the top quartile of methane intensity performance in the applicable regulated segment1 as determined by the ,administrator1 taking into account the findings of the studies under section #g7;a77#a72 7,b7 ensure that the aggregate methane intensity from the regulated segments does not exceed the emissions reduction target2 and 7,c7 use the methodologies for calculating methane intensity for each regulated segment described in the ,natural ,gas ,sustainability ,initiative ,protocol1 version #a4j1 dated ,february #bjba1 with such revisions as the ,administrator determines are necessary due to the findings of the studies under section #g7;a74 7#c7 ,compliance period ,the initial and subsequent methane intensity standards required by paragraph 7#a7 shall each apply for a three-year period4 7#d7 ,increasingly stringent standards ,the methane intensity standards under this section shall-- 7,a7 be increasingly stringent in each successive three-year period1 consistent with ensuring that aggregate methane intensity of the regulated segments does not exceed the emissions reduction target2 and 7,b7 be more stringent for each successive three-year period1 as appropriate based on advancements in methane-related monitoring1 detection1 repair1 or abatement methodologies4 7d7 ,new and existing covered facilities ,in establishing standards under this section1 the ,administrator may subcategorize new and existing covered facilities4 7e7 ,determination of compliance ,on an annual basis1 the ,administrator shall determine each covered facility's compliance with the applicable methane intensity standard under this section4 #d4 ,controlling unnecessary flaring ,as part of the process of establishing methane intensity standards under section #c1 the ,administrator shall establish regulations that prohibit routine flaring of natural gas from covered facilities such that-- 7#a7 greenhouse gas emissions from nationwide routine flaring shall be reduced by at least #hj percent below #bjag levels not later than the end of calendar year #bjbh2 and 7#b7 greenhouse gas emissions from nationwide routine gas flaring shall be reduced by #ajj percent below #bjag levels not later than the end of calendar year #bjcj4 #e4 ,emission detection1 measurement1 and reporting 7a7 ,leak detection and repair plans ,the ,administrator shall require the owner or operator of each covered facility to submit to the ,administrator a plan for methane leak detection and repair1 which shall specify-- 7#a7 the leak detection technology or technologies to be used2 7#b7 the frequency of inspections2 7#c7 the repair schedule for all detected leaks2 and 7#d7 the procedures for biannual review for the plan to ensure the plan incorporates advancements in leak detection and repair technologies and practices4 7b7 ,emissions measurement and reporting requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish requirements for covered facilities for the measurement and reporting of methane emissions4 7#b7 ,emission factors and activity data ,in determining the requirements related to emission factors1 activity data1 and other estimation methodologies1 the ,administrator shall consider the studies completed under section #g7;a77#b74 7c7 ,alternative emissions measurement methodologies 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall approve an alternative emissions measurement methodology for a covered facility if the owner or operator of the facility demonstrates that such alternative methodology will improve the accuracy of measurements1 including through more frequent measurements and application of more sensitive emission detection technologies4 7#b7 ,framework for evaluation ,the ,administrator shall establish a clear1 transparent1 and scientifically rigorous framework for evaluating the accuracy of proposed alternative methodologies1 which shall include detailed guidance on-- 7,a7 field testing and empirical data requirements for establishing the accuracy of any proposed emission factors or activity data2 7,b7 computer simulation and modeling requirements2 and 7,c7 procedures for submitting and obtaining approval of an alternative methodology4 7#c7 ,scope of approval ,if the ,administrator approves an alternative methodology for a covered facility1 other covered facilities in the same category may use the methodology4 7d7 ,review ,at least every #c years1 the ,administrator shall review and1 as appropriate1 revise the requirements established under this section1 taking into account advancements in technologies and practices4 #f4 ,conditional tradable credits program 7a7 ,determination of sufficiency of monitoring1 detection1 and measurement technologies ,in establishing1 reviewing1 and revising the methane intensity standards under section #c1 the ,administrator shall determine whether commercially available detection and measurement technologies are sufficiently robust to provide the frequency and accuracy of methane missions monitoring1 detection1 and measurement to support a tradable methane intensity credit program described in subsection 7b74 7b7 ,establishment of tradable credits program ,if the ,administrator makes a positive determination under subsection 7a71 the ,administrator shall establish a tradable methane intensity credit program under which-- 7#a7 the ,administrator shall issue tradable credits to the owner or operator of a covered facility that has a methane intensity lower than the applicable methane intensity standard under section #c2 and 7#b7 the owner or operator of a covered facility may obtain and surrender such tradable credits to meet its compliance obligation under section #c7;e71 and such tradable credits shall not constitute nor confer property rights on the holder of such credits4 7c7 ,monitoring1 detection1 measurement1 reporting1 and verification ,the ,administrator shall establish such requirements for monitoring1 detection1 measurement1 reporting1 and verification that the ,administrator determines are necessary for the program under subsection 7b74 #g4 ,studies 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,energy1 shall enter into an agreement with one or more research institutions to conduct-- 7#a7 a study to identify the top quartile of methane intensity performance for a statistically representative sample of covered facilities in each regulated segment2 7#b7 a study of the accuracy of component-level emission factors1 activity data1 and estimation methodologies2 and 7#c7 a study to integrate and reconcile top-down and bottom-up measurements of methane emissions from a statistically representative sample of covered facilities in each regulated segment4 7b7 ,advancing detection and measurement technologies ,the ,administrator1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,energy1 shall establish measurement and testing protocols for assessing the performance of new emission detection technologies1 such as stationary remote sensing devices1 vehicle-based sensors1 drones1 aircraft1 handheld equipment1 and satellites in order to facilitate the development1 evaluation1 and deployment of such technologies4 #h4 ,enforcement ,the ,administrator shall have the same authorities for enforcement of this ,act as the ,administrator has under section #aac of the ,clean ,air ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gdac7 for enforcement of requirements established under section #aaa of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gdaa71 including the same calculation of monetary penalties4 #i4 ,judicial review 7a7 ,in general ,a petition for review of action by the ,administrator in promulgating any nationally-applicable requirements under this ,act may be filed only in the ,court of ,appeals for the ,district of ,columbia4 7b7 ,timing of filing ,any petition for review under this section shall be filed within #fj days from the date of publishing such requirements as a final regulation in the ,federal ,register1 except that if such petition is based solely on grounds arising after such #fj-;day period1 then such petition shall be filed within #fj days after such grounds arise4 #aj4 ,registry1 emission database1 and data verification 7a7 ,registry ,the ,administrator shall establish a registry that makes it possible to calculate the aggregate methane emissions intensity of deliveries of natural gas or natural gas products to end-users or exporters of liquefied natural gas4 7b7 ,emissions database 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish a national methane emissions database based on the data collected from the studies described in section #g7;a7 and the monitoring1 detection1 repair1 and reporting activities undertaken by the owners or operators of covered facilities pursuant to the requirements of this ,act4 7#b7 ,public availability of data2 limitation ,all data collected pursuant to this subsection shall be compiled and made available to the public in a manner that does not identify the covered facility or the owner or operator providing such data4 7c7 ,data verification 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish robust procedures to ensure the accuracy1 transparency1 consistency1 and completeness of all methane emissions and methane emissions reduction data collected1 reported1 and verified pursuant to this ,act4 7#b7 ,consistency ,the procedures under paragraph 7#a7 shall be consistent with1 but may be more stringent than1 ,international ,organization for ,standardization ,standard #adjfd-b4 #aa4 ,international coordination ,the ,administrator shall engage with the ,environmental ,protection ,agency's counterpart environmental agencies in other countries to coordinate a collective effort to reduce methane emissions from the global oil and natural gas supply chain4 #ab4 ,relation to other standards ,if the ,administrator promulgates requirements under this ,act for a covered facility1 the ,administrator may not enforce methane emission performance standards for such facility1 or stationary sources within that facility1 under section #aaa7;b7 and #aaa7;d7 of the ,clean ,air ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gdaa7;b7 and 7d774 #ac4 ,savings clause ,nothing in this ,act-- 7#a7 subject to section #ab1 exempts covered facilities from limits on their emissions of air pollutants1 as such term is defined in section #cjb7;g7 of the ,clean ,air ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gfjb7;g771 including volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide2 or 7#b7 preempts the authority of ,state1 local1 or ,tribal governments to establish limitations on methane emissions from covered facilities4