Methane Emissions Reduction Program: Implementation Roadmap

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a significant opportunity to advance methane emission reductions within the oil and gas sector. Through the Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP), the EPA has the authority, obligation, and resources to establish a first-ever methane waste emissions charge (WEC) for oil and gas operators and deliver historic funding for methane reduction through grants and other assistance. The EPA now has the task of implementing the MERP, which requires a transformational shift in its approach to reporting, funding, and enforcement responsibilities.

This MERP Implementation Roadmap provides recommendations and milestones to successfully begin implementation at the EPA. Note while this roadmap suggests a pathway to timely implementation, the EPA is obligated to implement the WEC and MERP funding provisions of IRA regardless of how it decides to hire, resource, and otherwise implement the MERP.