Well stimulation treatments: production facilities: emissions.

(1) Existing law authorizes the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources in the Department of Conservation to regulate the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells in the state as well as the operation, maintenance, and removal or abandonment of tanks and facilities attendant to oil and gas production. Existing law generally vests the State Air Resources Board with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution, and air pollution control and air quality management districts with the primary responsibility for the control of air pollution from all sources other than vehicular sources. This bill would require an air district to establish an emission standard for methane from a well stimulation treatment, as defined, or a production facility, as defined, and to issue a permit or other regulatory document to an owner or operator to enforce that standard. The bill also would require the emission standard to include specified components. By adding to the duties of air districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the state board or an air district, as appropriate, to install monitoring stations near any site approved by the division for a well stimulation treatment or a production facility, as specified. By adding to the duties of air districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law makes a violation of any rule, regulation, or order of the state board or an air district a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.