BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1496 Page 1 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. AB 1496 Page 2 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, AB 1496 Page 3 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 Page 4 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 AB 1496 Page 5 Analysis Prepared by:Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092