HOUSE BILL 258

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Matthew McQueen and Kristina Ortez

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES; PROVIDING NATURAL GAS CAPTURE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPERATOR OF AN OIL OR GAS WELL OR NATURAL GAS GATHERING SYSTEM; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Oil and Gas Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] NATURAL GAS CAPTURE REQUIREMENTS--RULES.--

          A. Beginning January 1, 2027, an operator shall ensure that at least ninety-eight percent of the natural gas produced or gathered by the operator's facilities is captured in a calendar year; provided that natural gas shall not be included in the determination of an operator's overall capture percentage if that gas is:

                (1) released during an emergency;

                (2) beneficially used by the operator;

                (3) not suitable for transportation or processing due to nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide or carbon dioxide concentrations;

                (4) vented as a result of the normal operation of pneumatic controllers and pumps; or

                (5) vented or flared from an exploratory well.

          B. The division shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

          C. As used in this section, "operator" means a person that is duly authorized to construct, manage or operate an oil or gas well or associated facilities or a natural gas gathering system."

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