California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1903


Introduced by Assembly Member Wilk

February 11, 2016


An act to add and repeal Section 911.3 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to natural gas.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1903, as introduced, Wilk. Aliso Canyon gas leak: health impact study.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 2011, within the Public Utilities Act, designates the commission as the state authority responsible for regulating and enforcing federal law with respect to intrastate gas pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities. Existing law provides for the administration of various programs addressing public health by the State Department of Public Health.

This bill would require the commission and the department to jointly study the long-term health impacts of the significant natural gas leak from the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility located in the County of Los Angeles that started approximately October 23, 2015, as specified. The bill would require the commission to report its ongoing findings to the Legislature on a biennial basis, on or before January 1 of every even-numbered year, from 2018 until 2032.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

Section 911.3 is added to the Public Utilities
2Code
, to read:

3

911.3.  

(a) The commission and the State Department of Public
4Health shall jointly study the long-term health impacts of the
5significant natural gas leak from the Aliso Canyon natural gas
6storage facility located in the County of Los Angeles that started
7approximately October 23, 2015. The study shall include, but is
8not limited to, both of the following:

9(1) An investigation of the impact of the natural has leak on the
10health of persons who resided within a 12-mile radius of the Aliso
11Canyon natural gas storage facility in the County of Los Angeles
12between October 23, 2015, and ____.

13(2) An evaluation of the impact on residents due to exposure to
14chemicals, including, but not limited to, methane, benzene, and
15mercaptan.

16(b) (1) The commission shall report its ongoing findings to the
17Legislature on a biennial basis, on or before January 1 of every
18even-numbered year, from 2018 until 2032.

19(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section
209795 of the Government Code.

21(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the study conducted
22pursuant to subdivision (a) should be paid for out of moneys
23collected from any penalties assessed against Southern California
24Gas Company pursuant to this part in regards to the natural gas
25leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility located in the
26County of Los Angeles.

27(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2033,
28and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
29is enacted before January 1, 2033, deletes or extends that date.



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