Changes to EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program authorized by Congress will increase transparency and accountability for methane emissions from oil and natural gas facilities, which contribute significantly to climate change.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a new rule to improve methane emissions reporting requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems under EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, as mandated by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The final revisions will ensure more transparency and accountability for methane pollution from oil and natural gas facilities by improving the accuracy of annual emissions reporting. Oil and natural gas facilities are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, a climate “super pollutant” that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today.
EPA’s latest action complements the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive initiative to reduce methane emissions from every sector of the economy under the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Plan. In 2023 alone, the Administration took nearly 100 actions, with coordination by the White House Methane Task Force, to enhance methane detection and reduce methane pollution from oil and gas operations, landfills, abandoned mines, agriculture, industry, and buildings.
The final rule updating the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is a key part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program, as designed by Congress to assist states, industry, and communities in implementing recently finalized Clean Air Act methane standards and reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The Biden-Harris Administration is also mobilizing over $1 billion in financial and technical aid to speed up the transition to no- and low-emitting oil and gas technologies, as part of broad efforts to reduce wasteful methane emissions.
“As we put into action the historic climate plans under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is using the most up-to-date tools, advanced technology, and expertise to monitor and measure methane emissions from the oil and gas industry,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “A combination of strong standards, effective monitoring and reporting, and substantial investments to reduce methane pollution will ensure the U.S. leads in the global shift to a clean energy economy.”
Recent studies show that actual emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems are much higher than what has historically been reported to the GHGRP. This rule addresses that disparity, including by enabling the use of satellite data to identify super-emitters and measure large emission events, requiring direct monitoring of key emission sources, and updating the methods for calculation. Together these changes support complete and accurate reporting and fulfill Congress’s directive for the measurement of methane emissions to rely on empirical data.
The EPA's latest action aims to reduce methane emissions from the oil and natural gas industry, and promote the use of advanced methane detection technologies. The rule requires owners and operators to measure and report emissions detected through the Super-Emitter Program.
The new subpart W rule will enhance the accuracy of emissions data from oil and natural gas operations, by improving the quantification of methane emissions and allowing the use of advanced technologies like satellites. It also introduces new methodologies for quantifying emissions, and offers the option to use empirical data for demonstrating efforts to reduce methane emissions.
EPA is dedicated to staying up to date with advanced measurement technologies and is committed to making continuous improvements to its programs to ensure accurate and complete reporting.
- In the summer, EPA will seek input on the use of advanced measurement data and methods in subpart W through a non-regulatory process, and will use the feedback to consider potential further rulemaking on the use of advanced technologies.
- EPA plans to regularly gather information on new measurement and detection technologies through requests for information or similar engagements to keep up with technological advances and gather information about their accuracy and appropriateness for regulatory reporting.
For more details about this action, please go to the website. GHG Reporting Program Rulemaking Resources webpage.
Information about the Methane Emissions Reduction Program in the Inflation Reduction Act
Methane is a powerful climate pollutant that is stronger than carbon dioxide and accounts for about one third of the warming caused by greenhouse gases today. The oil and natural gas sector is the biggest industrial source of methane emissions in the United States. Rapidly reducing these methane emissions is one of the most critical and cost-effective actions the United States can take in the short term to slow the rapid increase in global temperatures.
EPA issued a rule in December 2023 to significantly decrease methane emissions and other harmful air pollution from new and existing oil and gas operations. Additionally, EPA is working to implement the three-part framework of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program. final rule First, EPA is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy to use resources provided by Congress in the Inflation Reduction Act to offer more than $1 billion in financial and technical support to speed up the adoption of technologies that reduce methane emissions. This may include funds for activities related to marginal (low-producing) conventional wells, support for methane monitoring, and funding to help decrease methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
Second, with today’s announcement, as directed by Congress, EPA is updating subpart W of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program to ensure that reporting of methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations is based on empirical data and accurately represents emissions. Third, in January 2024 EPA proposed a rule to put into effect Congress’ requirement for a Waste Emissions Charge. To seize immediate opportunities for methane reductions while EPA and states work toward full implementation of the final oil and gas rule, Congress directed EPA to impose a charge on methane emissions from large oil and gas facilities that are high-emitting and wasteful, based on data submitted under subpart W. Overview of Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Requirements for Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector
The GHGRP requires reporting of greenhouse gas data and other relevant information from large GHG emission sources, fuel and industrial gas suppliers, and CO2 injection sites in the United States. About 8,000 facilities are required to report their emissions annually, and the reported data are made accessible to the public in October of each year. Under the GHGRP, owners or operators of facilities that contain petroleum and natural gas systems and emit 25,000 metric tons or more of GHGs per year (expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents) report GHG data to EPA. Owners or operators collect GHG data; calculate GHG emissions; and follow the specified procedures for quality assurance, missing data, recordkeeping, and reporting. Subpart W consists of emission sources in ten segments of the petroleum and natural gas industry. Revisions to EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program approved by Congress will increase openness and responsibility for methane emissions from oil and natural gas facilities, which are a major cause…
Third, in January 2024 EPA proposed a rule to implement Congress’ requirement for a Waste Emissions Charge. To take advantage of near-term opportunities for methane reductions while EPA and states work toward full implementation of the final oil and gas rule, Congress directed EPA to collect a charge on methane emissions from large oil and gas facilities that are high-emitting and wasteful, based on data submitted under subpart W.
Background about Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Requirements for Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector
The GHGRP requires reporting of greenhouse gas data and other relevant information from large GHG emission sources, fuel and industrial gas suppliers, and CO2 injection sites in the United States. Approximately 8,000 facilities are required to report their emissions annually, and the reported data are made available to the public in October of each year.
Under the GHGRP, owners or operators of facilities that contain petroleum and natural gas systems and emit 25,000 metric tons or more of GHGs per year (expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents) report GHG data to EPA. Owners or operators collect GHG data; calculate GHG emissions; and follow the specified procedures for quality assurance, missing data, recordkeeping, and reporting. Subpart W consists of emission sources in ten segments of the petroleum and natural gas industry.
