CLOSE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6081

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-18: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-02-24T16:53:52Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Closing Loopholes for Oil and other Sources of Emissions Act" (CLOSE Act) aims to strengthen air pollution controls under the Clean Air Act by closing a regulatory exemption for oil and gas emissions and designating hydrogen sulfide—a toxic gas often released during oil and gas operations—as a hazardous air pollutant. This legislation seeks to ensure that emissions from these sources are more comprehensively regulated to protect public health and the environment.

Key Provisions

• Repeal of Aggregation Exemption: The bill eliminates a specific exemption in the Clean Air Act that previously allowed emissions from nearby oil and gas facilities to be treated separately rather than combined (a process called "aggregation") when determining if they qualify as a major pollution source requiring stricter controls.
• Designation of Hydrogen Sulfide as a Hazardous Air Pollutant:
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must issue a final rule within 180 days of the bill's enactment to add hydrogen sulfide to the official list of hazardous air pollutants (substances known or suspected to cause serious health effects like cancer or respiratory issues).
• Within 365 days after that rule, the EPA must update its list of regulated sources to include major sources (large emitters) and area sources (smaller, widespread emitters) of hydrogen sulfide, explicitly covering oil and gas wells.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Aggregation Rule Change: Under current law, Section 112(n)(4) of the Clean Air Act exempts oil and gas sources from aggregation rules, potentially allowing facilities to avoid classification as "major sources" and thus evade rigorous emission standards. Striking this paragraph removes the exemption, requiring emissions from adjacent oil and gas operations to be aggregated, which could reclassify many facilities and impose tougher technology-based controls (e.g., requiring pollution-capture equipment).
• Hydrogen Sulfide Regulation: Hydrogen sulfide is not currently listed as a hazardous air pollutant, so it falls outside the Clean Air Act's strictest standards for such substances. The bill mandates its inclusion, triggering new emission limits, monitoring, and permitting requirements for sources emitting it, similar to other toxins like benzene or mercury.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The EPA will face immediate deadlines to promulgate rules and update regulations, increasing administrative workload and potentially requiring additional resources for enforcement and compliance oversight.
• On Citizens: Communities near oil and gas operations may benefit from reduced exposure to harmful emissions, leading to potential improvements in air quality and public health (e.g., fewer respiratory illnesses from hydrogen sulfide, which can cause eye irritation, nausea, and in high concentrations, death).
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though stricter U.S. emission rules could align with global climate efforts (e.g., reducing greenhouse gases indirectly through better oversight) and influence trade or investment in energy sectors.
• Broader Environmental Effects: Enhanced controls could lower overall air pollution from the oil and gas industry, a major U.S. source of volatile organic compounds and methane, contributing to cleaner air and reduced climate change drivers.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Oil and Gas Industry: Primary targets, facing higher compliance costs, potential facility upgrades, and increased permitting hurdles, which could affect operations and profitability.
• Environmental and Health Advocacy Groups: Likely supporters, as the bill addresses long-standing concerns about lax regulation of fossil fuel emissions.
• Local Communities and Workers: Residents in oil-producing regions (e.g., Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale) may see health protections but could experience economic disruptions if regulations slow industry activity; workers might need retraining for new safety standards.
• EPA and State Regulators: Responsible for implementation, with states potentially needing to align their air quality plans.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The changes expand the Clean Air Act's reach without altering its core structure, but could invite lawsuits from industry groups challenging the repeal of the exemption or the rapid rulemaking timeline as arbitrary. Courts may scrutinize whether the aggregation change aligns with the Act's intent to regulate "major sources."
• Constitutional: No direct challenges anticipated, as the bill operates within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and environmental protection under the Commerce Clause; it does not infringe on states' rights but may require state-federal coordination.
• Political: Reinforces environmental priorities in a divided Congress, potentially advancing Democratic-led efforts to curb fossil fuel impacts amid debates over energy independence versus climate action; could face opposition in oil-dependent states, influencing future energy policy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

Cosponsors (23)

Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-18: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-11-18: Introduced in House
• 2025-11-18: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Closing Loopholes for Oil and other Sources of Emissions Act — issued 2025-11-18 — PDF (2 pages)