Sponsors (6)
Repeals the Clean Air Act methane incentive program for oil and gas systems and rescinds any remaining unobligated funds previously made available to it.
This bill trims federal spending and simplifies certain EPA budget-accounting burdens, but does so by rescinding methane‑reduction and clean‑air funds and authorities—shifting pollution, health risks, and program uncertainty onto local communities, states, and affected recipients.
All taxpayers: rescinding the $1.55 billion authorization and unobligated balances reduces near‑term federal outlays and may lower future discretionary spending tied to these accounts.
Energy companies/utilities: removing or reducing certain grant/loan program requirements eases administrative obligations for some operators.
Federal employees/EPA: rescinding unobligated balances reduces the number of unused federal balances the EPA must manage, simplifying agency budget accounting and reporting burdens.
Residents near oil and gas operations, especially rural and environmental‑justice communities: loss of $1.55 billion in monitoring, well‑plugging, and community mitigation funding will reduce local pollution controls and increase exposure and health risks.
The public and consumers: removing emissions‑reduction incentives and monitoring increases the risk of greater methane venting/leaks, degrading air quality and worsening climate impacts with broader health and economic costs.
Federal environmental oversight: EPA loses statutory tools (grants, technical assistance, monitoring authority) that detect and reduce methane emissions, constraining regulatory capacity and program delivery.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Official title: To repeal the natural gas tax.
Introduced January 9, 2025 by August Pfluger · Last progress January 9, 2025
Repeals the federal methane emissions and waste reduction incentive program for petroleum and natural gas systems created in the Clean Air Act and cancels any unobligated funds that were previously made available for that program. The bill removes the statutory authorities for grants, rebates, loans, contracts, monitoring, well plugging, community mitigation, administration, and the methane waste emissions charge that were established under the repealed provision.