BILL NUMBER: SB 682	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 28, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 25, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 11, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator  Calderon   Rubio 

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

    An act to add Section 39619.9 to the Health and Safety
Code, relating to electricity generation.   An act to
add Sections 3011 and 3016 to the Public Resources Code, relating to
public resources. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 682, as amended,  Calderon   Rubio  .
 Electricity generation: emissions.   Public
resources: oil and gas: underground injection of gas.  
   Existing law establishes the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal
Resources in the Department of Conservation and provides the division
with the authority to regulate oil and gas well and production
facilities.  
   The Hazardous Waste Control Law authorizes the Department of Toxic
Substances Control to regulate the disposal of hazardous and
extremely hazardous waste.  
   This bill would authorize the division to permit the underground
injection of a gas, including constituents stripped from gas, that is
produced in a downhole in connection with exploration, development,
or production operations for the purposes of disposal. The bill would
exempt gases that are hazardous or extremely hazardous waste and
injected underground pursuant to the above provision and that meet 3
conditions from regulation under the Hazardous Waste Control Law. The
bill would define the term "fluid" for purposes of oil and gas
conservation provisions.  
   The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the
State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with
monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases.
 
   This bill would require the state board, if the state board
develops an assessment of the extent and magnitude of potential
greenhouse gas emission reductions associated with using waste or
stranded gas for electricity generation, to provide a copy of the
assessment to the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and
Communications, the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, the
Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, and the Assembly Committee
on Utilities and Commerce. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 3011 is added to the  
Public Resources Code   , to read:  
   3011.  "Fluid" means any material or substance that flows or moves
whether in a semisolid, liquid, sludge, gas, or any other form or
state. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 3016 is added to the  
Public Resources Code   , to read:  
   3016.  (a) The division shall have the authority to permit the
underground injection of a gas, as defined in Section 3004, including
the constituents stripped from gas and produced from a downhole in
connection with exploration, development, or production operations
for the purposes of disposal.
   (b) A gas, including a constituent stripped from gas, is exempt
from regulations as hazardous or extremely hazardous waste pursuant
to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20 of the
Health and Safety Code, if it satisfies all of the following:
   (1) Is produced from a downhole in connection with exploration,
development, or production operations.
   (2) Is separated from the production stream as a part of the
primary field operations.
   (3) Is managed in a closed-loop system to prevent all of the
following:
   (A) Mixing with nonproduction wastes.
   (B) Exposure to the surface environment.
   (C) Transport beyond the primary field operations.
   (4) Is reinjected underground pursuant to subdivision (a).
   (c) For the purposes of this section, "primary field operations"
includes activities occurring before the point where the gas is
transferred from an individual field facility or a centrally located
facility to a carrier or pipeline for transport to market. 

  SECTION 1.    Section 39619.9 is added to the
Health and Safety Code, to read:
   39619.9.  If the state board develops an assessment of the extent
and magnitude of potential greenhouse gas emission reductions
associated with using waste or stranded gas for electricity
generation, the state board shall provide a copy of the assessment to
the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications, the
Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, the Assembly Committee on
Natural Resources, and the Assembly Committee on Utilities and
Commerce.