I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1600 To reduce methane emissions from flaring and venting natural gas during oil and natural gas production activities, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 3, 2021 Mr. UPTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To reduce methane emissions from flaring and venting nat- ural gas during oil and natural gas production activities, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Methane Emissions 4 Reduction Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. METHANE EMISSIONS. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall 7 carry out a comprehensive program to reduce methane 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Apr 18, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1600.IH H1600 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1600 IH emissions from flaring and venting natural gas during oil 1 and natural gas production activities, recognizing that 2 States are the primary regulators of oil and natural gas 3 production activities and emissions, including by— 4 (1) providing technical assistance to State and 5 public utility commissioners and officials, represent- 6 atives from the energy industry, and other stake- 7 holders from State, local, and Tribal organizations; 8 (2) accelerating the development and applica- 9 tion of technologies and practices to reduce flaring 10 and venting of natural gas; 11 (3) maintaining a database that summarizes 12 the relevant flaring and venting regulations in each 13 of the oil and gas producing States; and 14 (4) informing the States and other stakeholders 15 of potential options available to economically capture 16 and utilize natural gas. 17 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 18 of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall 19 submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce a re- 20 port describing— 21 (1) Federal, State, and local policies and regu- 22 lations relating to natural gas flaring and venting; 23 (2) initiatives to accelerate technology solutions 24 to reduce natural gas flaring and venting; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Apr 18, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1600.IH H1600 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1600 IH (3) barriers to the development and commercial 1 application of technologies to capture natural gas 2 that would otherwise be flared or vented; and 3 (4) recommendations to reduce barriers de- 4 scribed in paragraph (3). 5 (c) TECHNICAL CONFERENCE.—In preparing the re- 6 port under subsection (b), the Secretary of Energy shall 7 solicit input from States and local governments and rep- 8 resentatives of the energy industry, including by convening 9 a technical conference and providing an opportunity for 10 submission of written comments on a draft report. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Apr 18, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1600.IH H1600 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS