SCOPE Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7684
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-22T06:53:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The SCOPE Act of 2026 (H.R. 7684) directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to conduct a study and publish guidance on how direct emitters—large industrial facilities required to report greenhouse gas emissions—should calculate and report scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from a company's supply chain (upstream, like raw materials) and downstream activities (like product use by customers), beyond direct operations.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Direct emitter: Facilities in specific industrial categories under existing EPA greenhouse gas reporting rules (e.g., power plants, refineries), or others EPA selects.
- Greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, and certain synthetic gases like hydrofluorocarbons.
- Timeline: EPA must complete the study and publish guidance within 1 year of enactment.
- Guidance Content:
- Recommended emission thresholds above which reporting is advised.
- Calculation methods tailored to different industry types.
- Suggested monitoring frequency.
- Steps for data quality checks and handling missing data.
- Recordkeeping and reporting best practices.
- Savings Clause: Does not limit existing powers of the President, federal agencies, or states.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces new non-binding guidance on scope 3 emissions; current EPA rules focus mainly on direct (scope 1) and some energy-related indirect (scope 2) emissions.
- No mandatory reporting requirements—guidance is recommendatory only.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: EPA gains responsibility for the study and guidance, potentially standardizing voluntary emissions data collection.
- Citizens and Businesses: Provides tools for companies to better track full supply-chain emissions, aiding corporate sustainability efforts and investor transparency; no direct costs or mandates on individuals.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though standardized U.S. guidance could align with global standards like those from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- EPA: Leads implementation.
- Direct Emitters: Industrial facilities (e.g., manufacturing, energy sector) subject to current reporting rules.
- Businesses in Supply Chains: Upstream suppliers and downstream users, indirectly encouraged to improve emissions tracking.
- Investors and NGOs: Benefit from more consistent emissions data for accountability.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on EPA's existing authority under the Clean Air Act; guidance is voluntary, reducing litigation risk.
- Constitutional: No concerns, as it involves standard administrative rulemaking without infringing rights.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsors (Democrats and Republicans); promotes emissions transparency without new regulations, balancing environmental goals with business flexibility.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Standardized Calculation of Operational Polluting Emissions Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (4 pages)