BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2205
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 9, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2205 (V. Manuel Perez) - As Introduced: February 23, 2012
Policy Committee: Environmental
Safety and Toxic Materials Vote: 9-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill adds the following category of geothermal waste to the
list of geothermal waste that is exempt from permitting
requirements by the Department of Toxic Substances Control
(DTSC): geothermal waste continuously contained within a piping
system, nonearthen trench, descaling area, or other related
equipment used in connection with extraction of commercial
substances from the geothermal waste.
FISCAL EFFECT
No direct state costs.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. The author intends to clarify existing statute,
which exempts from DTSC permitting requirements many types of
waste produced by geothermal energy production. The author
contends this clarification will give certainty to geothermal
developers and extraction companies by ensuring that neither
party's geothermal exemption will threatened by extraction of
beneficial commercial substances from.
2)Background. DTSC has been granted primary enforcement
authority by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
for hazardous waste regulation. Geothermal wastes, however,
are exempt from regulation as hazardous waste. Federal and
state law exempt from DTSC permitting authority geothermal
waste resulting from drilling for geothermal resources because
the disposal of these geothermal wastes is regulated by the
state's regional water quality control boards.
AB 2205
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3)Related Legislation. Chapter 143, Statutes of 2006, (AB 1294
(Ducheny)) exempted from DTSC regulation any waste resulting
from the operation of a geothermal energy plant.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081