The Methane Pollution Accountability Act requires oil and gas companies to pay royalties on all natural gas they produce from federal land and federal waters, including gas that is wasted through venting, flaring, or accidental releases during drilling operations. The bill applies to all new leases issued after it becomes law and includes limited exceptions for emergency situations lasting less than 48 hours, gas used directly on the lease site, and unavoidable losses. The legislation also directs the Bureau of Land Management to enforce existing waste prevention rules from April 2024 and prevents the agency from adopting less stringent royalty requirements unless it can certify that new rules would further reduce natural gas waste and improve air quality. This affects oil and gas producers operating on federal lands and offshore, potentially increasing their costs by requiring them to pay for gas they currently do not. The bill is designed to reduce methane emissions and ensure taxpayers receive fair compensation for natural resources extracted from public lands.