5900-411 Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program: Partnership

OMB Control No. 2060-XXX
Approval expires XX/XX/XXXX

Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program: Partnership Agreement for
ONE Future Emissions Intensity (ONE Future) Commitment
The Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program is a flexible, voluntary partnership between the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and oil and natural gas companies. This voluntary Program allows the
EPA to collaborate with Partners to promote and track ambitious, transparent commitments to voluntarily reduce
methane emissions beyond regulatory requirements and to recognize Partners for their progress. By signing this
agreement,
(company name) agrees to join the U.S. EPA Natural Gas
STAR Methane Challenge Program to reduce methane emissions through a ONE Future Emissions Intensity
(ONE Future) Commitment. The ONE Future Commitment entails a Partner commitment to segment-specific
intensity targets, established through the ONE Future Partnership, which will represent emissions per volume
produced or volume of throughput and add up to a 1% or less “leakage rate” along the value chain by 2025.
ONE Future Emissions Intensity Commitment
Intensity Target:

Segment:
Target Year:

EPA’s Responsibilities
1. Assign a Methane Challenge Program Representative responsible for assisting the Partner in implementing
the Program.
2. Provide relevant Program details, which can be found on the Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program
website.
3. Assist Partners with Program implementation by:
(i) providing relevant technical information;
(ii) developing a mechanism for reporting supplemental information;
(iii) updating Program information as needed; and
(iv) answering questions about Program participation.
4. Encourage new and innovative methane emission mitigation technologies, as well as methodologies for
monitoring and measuring progress, and incorporate them into the Program.
5. Track Partner progress through provision of a user-friendly reporting system through which Partners can
report supplementary data relevant to achieving their Methane Challenge commitments. Supplementary data
will be used in conjunction with data that are already collected by Subpart W of the Greenhouse Gas
Reporting Program (GHGRP) to track Partner progress.
6. Promote the transparency and visibility of the Methane Challenge Program and member commitments and
achievements, by publicly releasing non-confidential data that is submitted either through the Methane
Challenge Program or through the GHGRP.
7. Acknowledge Program Partners through announcement of commitments, Implementation Plans, and other
data on the EPA’s Methane Challenge website.

Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Partner’s Responsibilities
1. Designate a company representative as the Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program Implementation
Manager responsible for serving as the contact point concerning implementation of this voluntary agreement.
2. Submit an Implementation Plan within six (6) months of signing this agreement outlining expected activities
and milestones for achieving commitments.
3. Specify commitment start date(s), which will be within six (6) months of joining the Program.
4. Engage directly with ONE Future to establish specific company-wide commitment.
5. Report on an annual basis non-CBI supplementary data relevant to achieving Methane Challenge
commitments, as outlined in Program documents. Supplementary data will be used in conjunction with data
collected by Subpart W of the GHGRP to demonstrate Partner progress.
6. Communicate participation to employees.

EPA Form No. 5900-411

Updated 8/3/18

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OMB Control No. 2060-XXX
Approval expires XX/XX/XXXX

General Terms
1. This voluntary partnership is intended to promote and recognize voluntary actions taken by oil and gas
companies to reduce methane emissions from their operations. It is understood that Partners to this Program
may have operations covered by federal, state, and/or other regulatory requirements. It is anticipated that
Partners may achieve their Methane Challenge Program commitments through a combination of voluntarilyand regulatorily-driven actions. Participation in this Program does not in any way change legal obligations of
Partners to comply with applicable laws regulations.
2. This agreement can be terminated by either party at any time, with no notice or penalties and no further
obligation. The EPA agrees not to publicize a Partner’s withdrawal from the Program beyond removing the
Partner’s name from Methane Challenge website. By setting out a target date on this form the Company does
not intend to expose itself to regulatory liability if it cannot meet the target date.
3. The Partner agrees that the activities it undertakes connected with this Partnership Agreement are not intended
to provide services to the federal government and that the Partner will not seek compensation from a federal
agency.
4. The Partner agrees that it will not claim or imply that its participation in the Program constitutes the EPA
approval or endorsement of anything other than the commitment to the Program. The Partner cannot use or
appropriate the EPA seal or identifier in any way.
5. In order to maintain status as a Partner in the Methane Challenge Program, the Partner agrees to annually
report specified supplemental data, per Program reporting specifications.
6. If the Partner is unable to meet their company commitment by the target year, and intends to remain in the
Program, the Partner company will provide relevant contextual information for the delay and set a new target
year. The EPA will note the adjustment to the implementation timeline on the Methane Challenge website.
7. All commitments made by the EPA in this Partnership Agreement are subject to the availability of
appropriated funds. Nothing in this Partnership Agreement, in and of itself, obligates the EPA to expend
appropriations or to enter into any contract, assistance agreement, interagency agreement, or incur other
financial obligations that would be inconsistent with Agency budget priorities. This Partnership Agreement
does not exempt the Partner from the EPA policies governing competition for assistance agreements. Any
transaction involving reimbursement or contribution of funds between the parties to this Partnership
Agreement will be handled in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and procedures under separate
written agreements.
8. Privacy Act Statement: Providing the requested information is voluntary. The purpose of collecting this
information is to allow the U.S. EPA to coordinate with key Partner Company representatives on their
participation in the EPA’s Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program. This information is needed in
order to identify the Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program Implementation Manager responsible
for serving as the contact point concerning implementation of this voluntary agreement. The EPA Program
Managers will use this information in order to communicate and coordinate with Partner companies on the
commitments made to achieving voluntarily methane emission activities through the Natural Gas STAR
Methane Challenge Program. The information will be used for the purpose set forth above and may be
provided to Congress or other Federal, state and local agencies for law enforcement purposes, if determined
necessary. Failure to disclose the personal information requested may prohibit the Agency from being able to
carry out the commitments and responsibilities outlined in this voluntary Partnership Agreement.

Signatures and Partner Contact Details
Authorized Company Representative:

(name)

Signature:

Date:

Authorized U.S. EPA Representative: Paul M. Gunning, Director, Climate Change Division
Signature:

EPA Form No. 5900-411

Date:

Updated 8/3/18

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OMB Control No. 2060-XXX
Approval expires XX/XX/XXXX
Partner’s Designated Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Implementation Manager:
Name:
Title:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Telephone/Fax:

E-mail:

Instructions
Please send this form to: Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program
Standard Mail:

Mail Code 6207M
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington DC 20460

Overnight Mail:

1201 Constitution Ave NW, Room Number 4353 UU
Washington DC 20004

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Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates,
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(2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any
correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.

EPA Form No. 5900-411

Updated 8/3/18

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