A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions".

Summary

S.J. Res. 12 is a joint resolution introduced in the 119th Congress invoking the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to disapprove a specific Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule titled 'Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions.' This EPA rule, published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 91094), implements provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that established a methane emissions waste charge—a fee on excess methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations. The rule details procedures for calculating the charge, including mechanisms for companies to net emissions across facilities and apply for certain exemptions. By invoking the CRA, Congress seeks to nullify this rule entirely, meaning it would have no legal force or effect if the joint resolution passes both chambers and is signed by the President (or enacted over a veto). The resolution's sponsors, led by Senator Hoeven and joined by numerous Republican senators, argue the rule imposes unnecessary regulatory burdens on the energy sector, could increase energy costs for consumers, and represents federal overreach. They contend that market forces and existing regulations are sufficient to address methane emissions without this additional fee. Critics, including environmental advocates and many Democrats, argue that weakening or eliminating the methane waste charge undermines efforts to combat climate change, as methane is a potent greenhouse gas with significant near-term warming potential. They maintain the rule is a necessary implementation of congressional intent from the Inflation Reduction Act and provides flexibility to industry through netting and exemptions while ensuring accountability for excess emissions. If enacted, S.J. Res. 12 would prevent the EPA from enforcing the methane emissions fee and its associated compliance procedures, potentially affecting hundreds of oil and gas facilities nationwide and altering the economic incentives for methane leak detection and repair. The resolution represents a broader ideological struggle over the appropriate balance between environmental regulation and energy industry autonomy, with implications for U.S. climate policy and international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Where Each Party Stands

History