[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9513 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9513

 To require a Federal science strategy for monitoring and detection of 
                    methane, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 10, 2024

Mr. Beyer (for himself and Mr. Lamborn) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require a Federal science strategy for monitoring and detection of 
                    methane, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Methane Monitoring Science Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. FEDERAL METHANE EMISSIONS DETECTION STRATEGY.

    (a) Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in consultation 
        with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, the Director of the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology, and the heads of other relevant 
        agencies, shall enter into an agreement with the National 
        Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (in this 
        section referred to as the ``National Academies'') to develop a 
        science-based strategy to assess, evaluate, and make 
        recommendations regarding the use of present and future methane 
        monitoring and detection capabilities, including ground-based, 
        airborne, and space-based sensors and integration of data 
        relating to such monitoring and detection from other 
        indicators, with a focus on the ability to detect both methane 
        emissions and large methane emission events (commonly referred 
        to as ``methane emissions'').
            (2) Requirements.--The strategy described in paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following elements:
                    (A) Examination of whether and how current and 
                planned Federal methane monitoring and detection 
                capabilities may be leveraged to monitor and detect 
                methane emissions, and identify key gaps in such 
                capabilities.
                    (B) Consideration of a means to facilitate 
                effective interagency collaboration for methane 
                monitoring and detection, data quality standards, 
                stewardship, and data integration, to monitor and 
                detect methane emissions.
                    (C) Consideration regarding how agencies that 
                conduct methane monitoring and detection can enhance 
                the scientific and operational value and enable the 
                broader application of information regarding methane 
                emissions, including by operationalizing methane 
                emissions data to support the rapid mitigation of 
                methane leaks and integrating such data from multiple 
                sources.
                    (D) Consideration of options for the Federal 
                Government to partner with nongovernmental entities, 
                including State and local governments, academia, non-
                profit organizations, commercial industry, and 
                international organizations, to effectively leverage 
                present and future methane monitoring and detection 
                capabilities.
                    (E) Plan for the rapid adoption of advanced 
                measurement technologies and methodologies into current 
                and future Federal and State regulations for the 
                purpose of compliance.
                    (F) Examination of the effectiveness of the U.S. 
                Greenhouse Gas Center and Greenhouse Gas Monitoring and 
                Measurement Interagency Working Group in facilitating 
                interagency collaboration for greenhouse gas monitoring 
                and detection, data standards, stewardship, and data 
                integration, including activities related to monitoring 
                and detecting methane emissions.
                    (G) Examination of actions taken by Federal 
                agencies and departments in response to the National 
                Strategy to Advance an Integrated U.S. Greenhouse Gas 
                Measurement, Monitoring, and Information System, 
                including progress towards pathways to enhance the 
                scientific and operational value of information 
                regarding methane emissions.
                    (H) Recommendations regarding the activities under 
                subparagraphs (A) through (G), as appropriate.
    (b) Use of Strategy.--The Administrator of NASA may use the 
strategy described in subsection (a) to inform the planning of research 
and development activities regarding methane monitoring and detection 
and the monitoring and detection of methane emissions.
    (c) Engagement.--The agreement with the National Academies under 
subsection (a) shall require the National Academies to hold workshops 
or events to regularly engage openly with stakeholders, agencies, and 
Congress in the intermediary during the preparation of the strategy 
under such subsection.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of the 
execution of the agreement between the Administrator of NASA and the 
National Academies under subsection (a), the National Academies shall 
submit to the Administrator of NASA, the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
strategy described in such subsection. Such report shall also contain a 
consideration relating to regional distinctions regarding how methane 
can be monitored and detected most effectively.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator of NASA $1,800,000 to carry out this 
section.
    (f) Definition.--In this section, the term ``methane monitoring and 
detection'' means the direct observation, from space or in-situ, and 
measured emissions data from source- and site-level technologies such 
as continuous or periodic monitoring, or collection of measurement data 
pertaining to, methane emissions and levels.
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