,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ebad ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #h1 #bjbb,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself and ,mr4 ,whitehouse7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,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 infrastructure1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,methane ,emissions ,research ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,national methane research pilot study 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,covered oil and gas infrastructure 7,a7 ,in general ,the term covered oil and gas infrastructure means the infrastructure used for the production1 gathering and boosting1 processing1 transmission1 and storage of oil and natural gas in the ,united ,states4 7,b7 ,exclusion ,the term covered oil and gas infrastructure does not include oil and gas distribution infrastructure4 7#d7 ,methane census ,the term methane census means a national methane census study to evaluate methane emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure that1 if carried out1 would-- 7,a7 be undertaken on a recurring basis2 and 7,b7 encompass all #g regions4 7#e7 ,pilot study ,the term pilot study means the measurement-based national methane research pilot study required under subsection 7b74 7#f7 ,region ,the term region means any of the #g oil and gas regions evaluated in the ,july #bjbb ,drilling ,productivity ,report of the ,energy ,information ,administration4 7b7 ,pilot study required ,the ,administrator1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,energy1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,administrator of the ,pipeline and ,hazardous ,materials ,safety ,administration1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology1 and the heads of other ,federal agencies as the ,administrator determines appropriate1 shall conduct a measurement-based national methane research pilot study to quantify methane emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure4 7c7 ,requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the pilot study1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 select #b regions within which to carry out the pilot study2 7,b7 identify areas consisting primarily of covered oil and gas infrastructure within each region selected under subparagraph 7,a72 7,c7 develop and implement methodologies and procedures for a measurement-based evaluation of methane emissions from the covered oil and gas infrastructure described in subparagraph 7,b72 7,d7 assess diverse approaches to the characterization of methane emissions from the covered oil and gas infrastructure described in subparagraph 7,b72 and 7,e7 consult with ,federal1 ,state1 local1 academic1 nonprofit1 and private sector entities1 as appropriate4 7#b7 ,technologies ,in carrying out the pilot study1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 employ a technology or suite of technologies for methane emissions measurement1 research1 and analysis2 and 7,b7 to the extent practicable1 consider using innovative technologies for methane emissions measurement and quantification4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress1 and make publicly available1 a report assessing the results of the pilot study1 which shall include-- 7#a7 an overview of the findings of the pilot study with respect to the quantification and characterization of methane emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure2 7#b7 an analysis of how the pilot study could support and inform the development and implementation of a methane census1 which shall include an analysis of-- 7,a7 the feasibility of evaluating the amount of methane emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure by region1 industry segment1 type of emission source1 or any other criterion1 as a component of a methane census2 7,b7 the necessary scope of measurement-based activities within regions in order to carry out a methane census2 7,c7 any onshore or offshore gaps within the scope of the pilot study that could merit inclusion as a part of a methane census2 7,d7 the estimated budget that would be required to oversee a methane census2 and 7,e7 any other relevant topic1 as determined by the ,administrator2 7#c7 an analysis of how the measurement-based evaluation of methane emissions from covered oil and gas infrastructure1 as completed by the pilot study or contemplated for a methane census1 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 ,u4,s4 ,greenhouse ,gas ,emissions and ,sinks of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 which shall include an analysis of-- 7,a7 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 infrastructure2 7,b7 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 infrastructure2 and 7,c7 any other relevant topic1 as determined by the ,administrator2 7#d7 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 quantification2 and 7#e7 a description of the methodology of the pilot study that1 to the greatest extent practicable and consistent with appropriate protections for confidential business information and intellectual property1 as determined by the ,administrator1 includes a discussion of-- 7,a7 study design2 7,b7 measurement techniques2 7,c7 efforts to account for additional significant sources of methane emissions within a region2 and 7,d7 assumptions and uncertainties in the results of the pilot study4 7e7 ,methane emissions data interoperability 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator1 to the greatest extent practicable1 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 findability1 accessibility1 interoperability1 and reusability of those data4 7#b7 ,consultation ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator shall consult with the heads of other ,federal agencies1 as appropriate-- 7,a7 to facilitate effective data sharing regarding methane emissions measurement and quantification data2 and 7,b7 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 study4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #bj1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4