EPA’s Voluntary Methane Challenge and Natural Gas STAR Programs

The Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program is a voluntary program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that provides an innovative voluntary mechanism through which oil and natural gas companies can make specific, ambitious commitments to reduce methane emissions. This Program is an integral part of the EPAs ongoing commitment to address methane emissions and global climate change, and was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and support from companies and trade organizations in the oil and gas industry. Methane is the primary component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas. The Program works to encourage oil and natural gas companies to go above and beyond existing regulatory action and make meaningful and transparent commitments to yield significant methane emissions reductions in a quick, flexible, cost-effective way. Transparency in comprehensively tracking company commitments through the non-confidential data reported by Methane Challenge partners is a key feature of the Program, and enables partners to highlight emissions reductions achieved through voluntary action taken. Implementation of the Methane Challenge Programs two commitment options, the Best Management Practice Commitment and the ONE Future Emissions Intensity Commitment, improves operational efficiency, saves partner companies money, and enhances the protection of the environment.

The latest form for EPA’s Voluntary Methane Challenge and Natural Gas STAR Programs expires 2021-08-31 and can be found here.