EPA Issues Rule on Methane Emissions Reporting Requirements

On May 14, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule revising methane emissions reporting requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. The revisions were mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, which amended the Clean Air Act to insert a new section 136. Under the new section 136(h), EPA was required to update the GGRP regulations pursuant to which petroleum and natural gas facilities report their greenhouse gas emissions “to ensure the reporting . . . [is] based on empirical data” that “accurately reflect[s] the total methane emissions and waste emissions from the applicable facilities.”