The Legal Framework for Federal Methane Regulation

Methane is a greenhouse gas with 25 times the warming capacity of carbon dioxide. Methane makes up about 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Primary sources of methane include oil and gas production, transportation and storage (methane is the main component of natural gas), landfill gases, coal mines, and agricultural practices.

This report summarizes existing federal authority to regulate methane emitted from all sources except agricultural sources. Methane emitted by agricultural sources is addressed primarily through voluntary programs and thus outside the scope of this report.