BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1496
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Das Williams, Chair
AB 1496
(Thurmond) - As Introduced February 27, 2015
SUBJECT: Methane emissions
SUMMARY: Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB), no later than
January 1, 2017 and in consultation with local air districts, to
adopt a program to measure, monitor, regulate, and reduce
emissions of methane in order to protect air quality and public
health and reduce global warming.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires ARB, pursuant to California Global Warming Solutions
Act of 2006 (AB 32), to adopt regulations to achieve maximum
technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in
emissions of greenhouse gases, including methane.
2)Requires ARB to complete a comprehensive strategy to reduce
emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), including
methane, by January 1, 2016.
3)Designates ARB as the air pollution control agency responsible
for the coordination of the activities of air pollution
control districts and air quality management districts for the
purposes of the federal Clean Air Act.
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4)Requires air districts to adopt and enforce rules and
regulations to achieve and maintain the state and federal
ambient air quality standards in all areas affected by
non-vehicular emission sources under their jurisdiction.
5)Generally prohibits a person from discharging air contaminants
or other material that cause injury, detriment, nuisance, or
annoyance or endanger the comfort, repose, health or safety to
any considerable number of persons, or to the public, or that
cause, or have a tendency to cause injury or damage to a
business or property.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS:
1)Background. As part of AB 32's direction that ARB adopt a
statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to 1990 levels by
2020 and adopt regulations to achieve maximum technologically
feasible and cost-effective GHG emission reductions, AB 32
requires ARB to prepare and approve a scoping plan at
five-year intervals.
The first AB 32 scoping plan, adopted by ARB in 2008,
described the specific measures ARB and others must take to
reduce statewide GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. In May
2014, ARB adopted a scoping plan update. The scoping plan
update discusses the objective of achieving an 80% reduction
by 2050 and the need for a midterm target, but does not
propose or adopt a specific target. According to ARB, the
update defines ARB's climate change priorities for the next
five years and sets the groundwork to reach California's
long-term climate goals. Among its provisions, the update
commits ARB to develop a SLCP strategy by 2015 that will
include an inventory of sources and emissions, the
identification of additional research needs, and a plan for
developing SLCP control measures. SB 605 (Lara), Chapter 523,
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Statutes of 2014, requires ARB to complete a comprehensive
SLCP strategy by January 1, 2016.
2)Author's statement:
Methane is a gas that is emitted from both natural and
human sources. Its concentration in the global atmosphere
has more than doubled since the beginning of the Industrial
Revolution. Methane is a SLCP with a lifetime of only
about 12 years when released into the atmosphere. It is an
extremely potent GHG, with 20-30 times the warming power of
carbon dioxide over a 100-year period (and more than 80
times over a 20-year period). Methane also impacts local
air quality and community health through its participation
in the formation of ozone, as well as water vapor, the most
powerful of the common causes of warming.
Although SB 605 required ARB to develop a comprehensive
SLCP strategy by January 1, 2016, it is imperative that
methane leakage be studied without delay because of its
proven negative impact on both snow pack levels and local
air pollution. With California experiencing the worst
drought in recorded history, we must act now to curtail
methane leakage.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Clean Power Campaign (sponsor)
AB 1496
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California League of Conservation Voters
Californians Against Waste
Coalition for Clean Air
Energy Source
Environment California
Environmental Action Committee of West Marin
Sierra Club California
Opposition
California Cattlemen's Association
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Rice Commission
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Analysis Prepared by:Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092