S. 514 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 11, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryClarifies rules for methane emissions program
The Methane Emissions Reduction Program helps measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while collecting fees on excess methane. This bill modifies the program by exempting smaller facilities from reporting requirements and fees, requiring the EPA to finish distributing grants and updating rules before collecting fees, and giving facilities a faster way to challenge fee amounts. The program automatically ends on December 31, 2034.
How it affects you
Small upstream facilities that emit less than 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases per year and have 2,500 or fewer full-time employees will be exempted from the program's reporting requirements and fees. Facilities in states meeting their emission standards may also avoid fees. For others subject to the program, the bill could mean clearer explanations of reporting rules and a quicker process to dispute fees charged to them.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 11, 2025)
Methane Emissions Reduction Program Clarifications Act of 2025 or the MERP Clarifications Act of 2025
This bill modifies the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, including by exempting certain facilities from methane emission reporting requirements and fees.
Under the program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must (1) provide financial and technical assistance to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and (2) collect a fee on methane emissions that exceed certain thresholds.
The bill exempts certain small upstream facilities from the program's reporting requirements and fees. Specifically, the exemption applies to a facility that, as of August 16, 2022, (1) was emitting less than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases per year, and (2) had 2,500 or fewer full-time employees.
The bill also prohibits the EPA from imposing a fee on certain facilities during any period in which the facilities (1) comply with specified emission standards, and (2) are located in states that are complying with their state implementation plans.
Further, the bill requires the EPA to disburse all incentive grants under the program and finalize revisions to certain emissions reporting regulations before it collects fees. The EPA must also propose a rule to establish an expedited process for certain facilities to appeal or dispute the amount of fees.
Additionally, the EPA must publish specified information about the program, including a clear explanation of the reporting requirements and calculations necessary to understand them.
Finally, the bill automatically terminates the program on December 31, 2034.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 514
A BILL
MERP Clarifications Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) · Introduced Feb 11, 2025 · Environmental Protection · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 11, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.”