The Methane Waste Prevention Act was introduced in the House on March 2, 2021 by Representative Diana DeGette [D-CO-1] on behalf of herself and Representatives Raul M. Grijalva [D-AZ-3], Alan S. Lowenthal, [D-CA-47], Jared Huffman [D-CA-2], Barbara Lee, [D-CA-13], Earl Blumenauer [D-OR-3], Adriano, Espaillat [D-NY-13]. The Bill was assigned to the Energy and Mineral Resources Committee, and sent to the House floor to be voted on on April 28, 2021. This Bill was previously introduced in the 116th Congress, but it did not receive a vote.
THE BILL: H.R.1492 “All across our country, oil and gas producers are releasing tons of methane into our atmosphere where it’s causing real harm to our environment and exacerbating the climate crisis...if we’re going to be serious about solving the climate crisis, we have to get serious about preventing the amount of methane that’s being pumped into our atmosphere.” -- Representative Diana DeGette What does the Bill do? Methane gas is one of the leading contributors to the ongoing climate crisis. This bill was introduced as a direct effort to address the release of methane by limiting the amount that oil and gas producers can release into the atmosphere. The Bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Bureau of Land Management to set restrictions to limit the amount of methane released from drilling sites. This goal is to facilitate a steady decrease in methane emissions from the oil and gas sector such that by 2025, the methane emissions are 65% below 2012 levels, and 90% below 2012 levels by 2030. The EPA can set regulations to control the amount of emissions through their authority under the Clean Air Act. States would be required to submit their action plans to be in accordance with methane reduction goals, and regulations would apply to each part of natural gas and oil systems including production, processing, transmission, distribution and storage. Additionally, this Bill would amend previous legislation such that there will be new requirements to reduce gas waste from venting, flaring, and leaks on public lands. In five years, 99% of gas waste produced will be captured. Additionally, venting natural gas and flaring from new wells will be prohibited, and standards for new equipment and operations will be implemented to reduce gas leaks. Oil and gas companies will also be required to establish procedures for leak detection and repairs such as required monthly inspections of infrared camera technology and record keeping. Additionally, the Bill would require increased reporting and transparency by making all new measured data such as venting and flaring gases lost, freely and publicly available on the internet. Penalties for unauthorized gas venting or flaring would include production restrictions and fines equal to 15x the market value of vented or flaring gas, respectively. Why was it proposed? Methane is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas, behind carbon dioxide, that traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes significantly to the climate crisis (1). Methane is, however, significantly worse than carbon dioxide because it traps 86 times more heat than carbon dioxide, and is often coupled with other toxic pollutants all of which can have serious health impacts (2). The oil and gas industry in particular leaks or purposefully vents over 13 million metric tons of methane into the atmosphere each year as part of their operations (3). The problem of methane leaks from the oil and gas industry has long been recognized. The Obama administration enacted the first requirements to reduce methane emissions in 2016. However, in 2020 the Trump administration lifted these restrictions, allowing companies to continue releasing significant quantities of methane emissions without regulation. Earlier in 2021, the Senate used a Congressional Review Act to reverse the rollbacks which passed in April and is expected to pass the House. Benefits The policies that would be used to accomplish the goals of this Bill would also likely prevent the release of other toxic air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It would also help to prevent smog by limiting the release of air pollutants that contribute to the haze. Through this Bill, methane emissions would be cut and as a result the air would be cleaner overall. Additionally, less methane would be wasted and as a temporary solution could be repurposed for other uses, such as natural gas. Less waste could also mean more profit for companies. Challenges Oil and gas production is not the only large emitter of methane, and therefore cannot be the only step taken to reduce methane emissions. The agricultural sector also is a major emitter of methane, largely through cow burps. One solution to livestock emissions is adding a specific kelp to their diet, which helps to limit the amount of gas they produce. In general, oil and gas are widely supported by Republicans so gaining their support on this may be difficult. In a broader perspective, while many people recognize the climate crisis and the extremely harmful impacts of oil and gas, people are also afraid of transitioning away from the pre-existing oil and gas industry due to the significant economic benefits historically observed and the comfort of stability (4). This enormous hurdle will be essential to overcome for moving forward toward clean energy. The Reality of Congress The outlook according to Govtrack’s estimated likelihood of passing is 21%. This Bill made it out of Committee, and is being sent to the House floor, which is something that only happens to 1 in 4 Bills. How Republicans see it: This Bill has no Republican support as of yet. Oil and gas companies have a lot of money invested in Congressional campaigns on both sides of the aisle. In particular, there’s a substantial amount of money from the oil and gas industry on the Republican side (5,6), so the companies and workers who donate may have a degree of influence on decisions made in Congress. Specifically, donations typically come in as rewards after voting against legislation that protects the environment (6). In turn, it may be difficult for Republicans and those supported by those invested in oil and gas to sway away. How Democrats see it: This Bill currently has 21 Democrat sponsors. Generally, Democrats see this as one of many essential steps for combatting the climate crisis, and for addressing environmental injustices related to air pollution. Want to advocate? Does this Bill resonate with you? Do you want to see it become a law? Have concerns or thoughts you would like to discuss? In the House, the Bill currently has 20 cosponsors: Diana DeGette [D-CO-1], Raul M. Grijalva [D-AZ-3], Alan S. Lowenthal, [D-CA-47], Jared Huffman [D-CA-2], Barbara Lee, [D-CA-13], Earl Blumenauer [D-OR-3], Adriano, Espaillat [D-NY-13], Peter Welch [D-VT-At Large], Peter A. DeFazio [D-OR-4], Jahana Hayes [D-CT-5], Emanuel Cleaver [D-MO-5], Betty McCollum [D-MN-4], Mike Levin [D-CA-49], Alcee L. Hastings [D-FL-20], Ruben Gallego [D-AZ-7], Katie Porter [D-CA-45], Sean Casten [D-IL-6], Teresa Leger Fernandez [D-NM-3], Ed Perlmutter [D-CO-7], Matt Cartwright [D-PA-8], Rashida Tlaib [D-MI-13] Do you see your Congresspeople listed above? If not, you can email your policymakers by finding their emails at https://www.congress.gov/members?searchResultViewType=expanded or call their offices to voice your thoughts. Remember to use our Resources page for more information and guidance when reaching out! Footnotes
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