HR5964-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Methane Emissions Reduction Act.

2. Methane emissions The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a comprehensive program to reduce methane emissions from flaring and venting natural gas during oil and natural gas production activities, recognizing that States are the primary regulators of oil and natural gas production activities and emissions on State and private lands, including by— providing technical assistance to State and public utility commissioners and officials, representatives from the energy industry, and other stakeholders from State, local, and Tribal organizations; accelerating the development and application of technologies and practices to reduce flaring and venting of natural gas; maintaining a database that summarizes the relevant flaring and venting regulations in each of the oil and gas producing States; and informing the States and other stakeholders of potential options available to economically capture and utilize natural gas. Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing— Federal, State, and local policies and regulations relating to natural gas flaring and venting; initiatives to accelerate technology solutions to reduce natural gas flaring and venting; barriers to the development and commercial application of technologies to capture natural gas that would otherwise be flared or vented; and recommendations to reduce barriers described in paragraph (3). In preparing the report under subsection (b), the Secretary of Energy shall solicit input from States and local governments and representatives of the energy industry, including by convening a technical conference and providing an opportunity for submission of written comments on a draft report.