Methane Emissions Mitigation Research and Development Act
This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a research consortium and a technical assistance program for states, localities, or for-profit entities to develop technologies, methods, and strategies to detect and mitigate methane emissions.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8993 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8993
To provide for methane emission detection and mitigation, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 28, 2022
Mr. Casten (for himself and Mr. Meijer) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for methane emission detection and mitigation, 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 Mitigation
Research and Development Act''.
SEC. 2. METHANE EMISSION DETECTION AND MITIGATION.
(a) In General.--Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 969D. METHANE LEAK DETECTION AND MITIGATION.
``(a) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the
heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall carry out a
program of methane emissions detection and mitigation research,
development, and demonstration for technologies and methods
that significantly detect, quantify, and mitigate methane
emissions. In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall--
``(A) enter into cooperative agreements with State
or local governments or for-profit entities to provide
technical assistance to--
``(i) prevent or respond to methane
releases, including prediction, detection,
mitigation, quantification, and identification
of leaks, vents, and other outflows throughout
the natural gas infrastructure (including
natural gas storage, pipelines, and natural gas
production sites); and
``(ii) protect public health in the event
of a major methane release;
``(B) promote demonstration and adoption of
effective methane emissions-reduction technologies in
the private sector;
``(C) in coordination with representatives from
private sector entities, State and local governments,
and institutions of higher education, establish a
publicly accessible resource for best practices in the
design, construction, maintenance, performance,
monitoring, and incident response for--
``(i) pipeline systems, including
compressor stations;
``(ii) production wells;
``(iii) storage facilities; and
``(iv) other vulnerable infrastructure;
``(D) in coordination with representatives from
private sector entities, State and local governments,
and institutions of higher education, establish a
publicly accessible resource for best practices in
evaluation and incorporation of emission reduction
technologies, including--
``(i) metrics for performance evaluation;
and
``(ii) principles for selection and
integration that are best suited for the
project or entity concerned;
``(E) research technologies to more accurately
quantify emissions, including--
``(i) the ability to accurately
characterize and measure methane emissions
through various atmospheric conditions such as
wind, rain, fog, and dust;
``(ii) improvements to data analytics and
machine learning platforms; and
``(iii) the ability to characterize
temporal patterns in emissions, such as through
continuous monitoring or multitiered system
practices;
``(F) identify high-risk characteristics of
pipelines, wells, storage facilities, and materials,
geologic risk factors, or other key factors that
increase the likelihood or intensity of methane
emissions leaks;
``(G) identify methane mitigation methods and
technologies in coal mines; and
``(H) in collaboration with private sector entities
and institutions of higher education, quantify and map
significant geologic methane seeps and other sources of
natural emissions across the United States.
``(2) Considerations.--In carrying out the program under
this section, the Secretary shall consider the following:
``(A) Historical data of methane emissions.
``(B) Public health consequences.
``(C) Public safety.
``(D) Novel materials and designs for pipelines,
compressor stations, components, and wells (including
casing, cement, and wellhead).
``(E) Regional geologic traits.
``(F) Induced and natural seismicity.
``(b) Methane Leak Detection Consortium.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish
and operate a Methane Emissions Measurement and Mitigation
Research Consortium (in this section referred to as the
`Consortium') for the purpose of supporting, to the maximum
extent practicable, data sharing, research prioritization, and
researching cooperative leak detection and repair strategies
pertaining to methane emissions detection, quantification, and
mitigation.
``(2) Membership.--The members of the Consortium shall be
representatives from relevant Federal agencies, National
Laboratories, oil and gas operators and industry groups,
vendors of methane detection and quantification technologies,
institutions of higher education, community organizations,
relevant nongovernmental organizations, and other appropriate
entities.
``(3) Responsibilities.--The Consortium shall develop and
implement a multiyear plan that--
``(A) identifies technical goals and milestones for
the Consortium; and
``(B) facilitates data sharing for the purposes
of--
``(i) bettering the understanding of
methane emissions from the oil and gas sector;
``(ii) improving emissions detection,
measurement, and mitigation capabilities; and
``(iii) improving the understanding of
methane quantification data analytics and
machine learning platforms, including for
calibration of measurements.
``(4) Reporting.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall report on
the Consortium's activities to the appropriate
congressional committees.
``(B) Initial report.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this section, the
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report summarizing the activities,
findings, and progress of the program. The report shall
include--
``(i) a review of LDAR technologies
available to the oil and gas sector for the
purpose of methane emissions measurement and
mitigation;
``(ii) a summary of research gaps and
priorities related to methane emissions
detection, measurement, and mitigation
capabilities; and
``(iii) a description of the data sharing
and cooperative activities that have been
initiated pursuant to paragraph (3)(B).
``(C) Annual report.--Not later than one year after
the date on which the report under subparagraph (B) is
submitted and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report summarizing the activities, findings, and
progress of the program. The report shall include--
``(i) an updated review of LDAR
technologies available to oil and gas operators
for the purpose of methane emissions
measurement and mitigation;
``(ii) a description of the state of
methane emissions detection and measurement
capabilities;
``(iii) a summary of research priorities
relating to methane emissions detection,
measurement, and mitigation; and
``(iv) an update on the data sharing and
cooperative activities undertaken by members of
the Consortium.
``(5) Sunset; termination.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may provide
support to the Consortium for a period of not more than
ten years, subject to the availability of
appropriations.
``(B) Merit review.--Not later than five years
after the date on which the Consortium is established,
the Secretary shall conduct a review to determine
whether the Consortium has achieved the technical goals
and milestones identified under paragraph (3)(A).
``(6) Definitions.--In this section:
``(A) Appropriate congressional committees.--The
term `appropriate congressional committees' means the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate.
``(B) LDAR.--The term `LDAR' means a technology,
program, or activity that is intended to monitor,
detect, measure, or repair methane leaks.
``(C) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the
Secretary of Energy.
``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out
this section--
``(A) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(B) $34,650,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(C) $36,382,500 for fiscal year 2025;
``(D) $38,201,625 for fiscal year 2026; and
``(E) $40,111,706 for fiscal year 2027.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended by adding at the end of the
items relating to subtitle F of title IX of such Act the following new
item:
``Sec. 969D. Methane leak detection and mitigation.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
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