BILL NUMBER: AB 1104	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  534
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 25, 2014
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 25, 2014
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 14, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 29, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 27, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 17, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 7, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 6, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Salas
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Gatto)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add and repeal Section 21080.23.5 of the Public
Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1104, Salas. California Environmental Quality Act: biogas
pipelines: exemption.
   (1) The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a
lead agency to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the
completion of, an environmental impact report on a project, as
defined, that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a
significant effect on the environment, as defined, or to adopt a
negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that
effect. CEQA provides some exemptions from its requirements for
specified projects, including for a project that consists of the
inspection, maintenance, repair, restoration, reconditioning,
relocation, replacement, or removal of an existing pipeline, as
defined, if specified conditions are met.
   This bill would provide that, for purposes of that exemption,
until January 1, 2018, "pipeline" also means a pipeline located in
Fresno, Kern, Kings, or Tulare County, that is used to transport
biogas, as the bill would define that term, and that meets the
existing requirements for the exemption and all local, state, and
federal laws. Because a lead agency would be required to determine
the applicability of the exemption, the bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
   (2) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as
to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Fresno,
Kern, Kings, and Tulare.
   (3) 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.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 21080.23.5 is added to the Public Resources
Code, to read:
   21080.23.5.  (a) For purposes of Section 21080.23, "pipeline" also
means a pipeline located in Fresno, Kern, Kings, or Tulare County,
that is used to transport biogas, and meeting the requirements of
Section 21080.23 and all local, state, and federal laws.
   (b) For purposes of this section, "biogas" means natural gas that
meets the requirements of Section 2292.5 of Title 13 of the
California Code of Regulations and is derived from anaerobic
digestion of dairy animal waste.
   (c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends
that date.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is
necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the
meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution
because of the unique circumstances concerning the delivery of biogas
in the Counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare.
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a
local agency or school district has the authority to levy service
charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or
level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section
17556 of the Government Code.