EPA loses power to monitor oil and gas flares for emissions

What it does

This bill prohibits the EPA from requiring oil and gas facilities to continuously monitor the net heating value of combustion control devices (like flares). It also prevents the EPA from reducing the maximum time (below 72 hours) that wells can route gas to flares during malfunctions or safety incidents, and allows wells to route gas to flares for up to 90 days during service interruptions without EPA oversight.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is to strip EPA monitoring authority over oil and gas combustion devices and extend the time operators can route gas to flares without oversight. This is a direct reduction in environmental compliance obligations for a specific industry sector.

What the text implies

• Removing continuous NHV monitoring eliminates real-time data on combustion efficiency, making it harder for EPA to detect when flares are malfunctioning or operating outside design parameters, which can increase uncontrolled emissions of methane and other air toxins.
• The 72-hour malfunction window and 90-day service-interruption window create extended periods during which gas can be routed to flares with minimal EPA oversight, potentially normalizing flaring as a default response to operational disruptions rather than a last resort.
• By tying the bill to specific CFR sections (63.670, 60.5391c, 60.5377b), the bill locks in a regulatory baseline as of the enactment date, preventing EPA from updating monitoring standards even if science or operational data later shows continuous monitoring is necessary for public health.
• The bill applies to crude oil facilities, natural gas facilities, exploration/production wells, and transmission/storage facilities — a broad swath of the oil and gas supply chain — meaning the deregulation spans upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Ordinary citizens lose environmental monitoring and transparency at oil and gas facilities. Flares and combustion devices emit air pollutants including volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and particulates that affect air quality and public health. Removing continuous monitoring requirements reduces EPA's ability to detect violations and enforce clean air standards, shifting the cost of air pollution onto the public.

Who stands to gain

• crude oil and natural gas producers
• oil and gas exploration and production companies
• natural gas transmission and storage operators
• operators of flaring and combustion control infrastructure

Named in the bill

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, Section 112(n)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 40 CFR 63.670(m), 40 CFR 60.5391c, 40 CFR 60.5377b, crude oil facilities, natural gas facilities, oil and gas exploration and production wells, natural gas transmission and storage facilities

Where it stands

2 cosponsors: 2 Republicans.

• Oct 29, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Oct 29, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.