Methane Rules in Flux - What’s Changing & What Operators Need to Know
Author: Gretchen Kern
TL;DR
EPA’s Methane Rules (Quad Ob & Oc): Still active. Even if repealed and revised, the process will take time. Alternative monitoring technologies (like Qube) remain a compliant and cost-effective solution.
Methane Emission Reduction Program (MERP): Law remains, but DOE funding is paused. Congress may attempt to repeal it.
Waste Emission Charge (WEC): Still in effect. Congress is trying to nullify it, but for now, excess emissions still come with financial and reputational risks. Operators should use continuous monitoring to avoid unnecessary costs and reputational risks.
GHGRP Subpart W Revision Rule: Strengthened methane reporting requirements remain in place unless repealed. If WEC is overturned, there won’t be a financial penalty for detecting higher emissions, but reporting obligations will still apply.
U.S. Methane Regulations - What’s Changing and What You Can Do
With the new Trump administration, methane regulations are in flux - but compliance remains essential. While some rules are being reviewed, others remain in effect, and operators need to stay prepared. The right technology ensures you’re both compliant today and ready for what’s next.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what has changed (and what hasn’t) since Trump took office. (Status current at time of publishing)
US methane emissions regulations overseen by EPA and Congress currently under review.
EPA’s Methane Rules (Quad Ob & Quad Oc)
These remain in effect and allow operators to use alternative leak detection technology instead of quarterly OGI inspections.
Even if repealed, the process will take time – compliance is still required.
EPA’s endangerment finding, that requires methane to be regulated, is being scrutinized but any changes will be a lengthy process and heavily litigated.
How to Stay Ahead: Qube’s continuous monitoring is a future-proof solution as the alternative technology approval progresses.
Methane Emission Reduction Program (MERP)
Status: Still law, requiring the WEC fee to be implemented, stricter methane reporting and funding for emissions reduction projects.
Recent Update: Trump paused DOE funding, and Congress may attempt to repeal parts or all of the program, affecting grant opportunities for awardees.
Why It Matters: Entities relying on MERP funding should stay alert for policy shifts.
Waste Emission Charge (WEC)
What It Does: Imposes a methane fee on excess emissions.
Current Status: Still active, but Congress is attempting to nullify this rule.
The Risk: Even if WEC is overturned, third-party monitoring (e.g., satellite, airborne) continues, meaning high emissions will still attract scrutiny.
GHGRP Subpart W Revision Rule
Requires more accurate methane reporting and remains active unless rule is repealed by EPA.
Impact: If WEC is repealed, operators won’t face methane fees on emissions detected by better monitoring, but reporting rules will still apply.
Bottom Line for Operators
Regulatory uncertainty doesn’t mean inaction. Most methane rules remain in place today, and staying compliant now avoids costly risks later.
Follow current detection and reporting requirements.
Leverage alternative monitoring (like Qube) to stay ahead of compliance changes.
Stay informed – Qube provides ongoing updates on regulatory changes, so follow us to stay ahead of evolving methane rules.
Regulatory shifts can happen fast – don’t let compliance uncertainty put your operations at risk. Stay ahead of evolving methane regulations with expert insights from Qube.
Contact Qube Technologies today to discover how our accurate, real-time monitoring solutions can elevate your emissions management strategy.
Looking for deeper insights? Explore our other resources and case studies or reach out directly to see how Qube is driving emissions reduction across the industry.