2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 3 - OIL AND GAS › CHAPTER 1 - Oil and Gas Conservation › ARTICLE 4.6 - Health Protection Zones › Section 3283.

3283. (a) All operators with a production facility or well with a wellhead in a health protection zone shall develop a leak detection and response plan that shall be submitted to the division no later than January 1, 2025, and fully implemented by operators by January 1, 2027. For any leak detection and response plan submitted by January 1, 2025, the division shall either approve the plan or provide notice of deficiencies by January 1, 2026. Commencing January 1, 2027, the operator shall suspend all production and injection operations within a health protection zone unless an approved leak detection and response plan is fully implemented in that area. A leak detection and response plan is subject to review and approval by the division, in consultation with and with the concurrence of the State Air Resources Board, and shall include all of the following:
(1) The leak detection and response plan shall identify the chemical constituents, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide, as well as potential toxics of highest concern in the region as identified by the State Air Resources Board or local air district that will be detection targets for the emissions detection system to ensure early detection of leaks that otherwise may result in emissions impacting the surrounding communities. Not all chemical species that may be found in the oilfield are required to be detection targets and methane may serve as a surrogate for chemical constituents that cannot be continuously monitored but are identified in the leak detection and response plan. The State Air Resources Board and the State Water Resources Control Board shall adopt regulations as necessary to implement and set performance standards by regulation for the emissions detection system. The division, the State Air Resources Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board may adopt such regulations under an emergency rulemaking process as provided in Section 3288.
(2) (A) The leak detection and response plan shall include a continuously operating emissions detection system designed to provide for rapid detection of target chemical constituents to identify leaks before emissions impact the surrounding communities. Sampling locations and sample inlets shall be sited consistent with local meteorology and best practices.
(B) The emissions detection system shall include an alarm system that effectively, immediately, and reliably alerts the operator when triggered.
(C) The emissions detection system shall include a new, or use an existing, meteorological system that is appropriately sited with the ability to continuously record measurements.
(b) The leak detection and response plan shall include an alarm response protocol that provides for immediate action to rapidly identify and fix the leak that is the source of the emissions. In the event that the source of the emissions is not identified and the leak stopped within 48 hours of the leak being identified, the alarm response protocol shall include a communication plan for notification of local emergency responders and public health authorities, the division, and people in the community, including notification in languages that are easily understood by the affected community. The alarm response protocol shall provide for compliance with all local, state, and federal requirements for reporting leaks of hazardous emissions. The operator shall consult with local emergency response entities when preparing the alarm response protocol and shall engage in drills as deemed necessary by the local emergency response entity. The alarm response protocol shall provide for collection and determination of the chemical composition of a representative sample near the leak when a continuous alarm event indicates that emissions from the leak may have impacted the surrounding community, and the subsequent collection and determination of the chemical composition of samples when there is reason to believe that the composition of the emissions may be changing. If the source of the emissions is a leak from a well or production facility, the operator shall suspend use of the well or production facility until the leak has been corrected and the division has approved the resumption of its use. Where the operator can demonstrate to the division that the source of the emissions is not related to the oil and gas operations, the division may waive any additional actions required under the alarm response protocol.
(c) The division and the State Air Resources Board shall collaborate to develop methods for providing public access to data generated by operators from emissions detection systems.
(d) The division shall hold no less than three public workshops following the enactment of the emergency regulations pursuant to Section 3288 to provide information and guidance to operators and the public on the development of leak detection and response plans pursuant to this section.
(e) An operator’s leak detection and response plan shall be reviewed and updated by the operator, subject to division approval, at least once every five years from the date of its initial approval by the division. The division shall hold at least one public technical workshop at least biennially to provide information and guidance to operators on best practices for the development, review, and update of leak detection and response plans.
(f) The operator shall record and maintain records of emissions and meteorological monitoring, including the composition of any samples collected during leak events, for 10 years.
(g) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, commencing July 1, 2023, and at six-month intervals thereafter, the supervisor shall notify the applicable legislative budget and policy committees on progress, including milestones, towards achieving the deadlines in subdivision (a) for the development, approval, and implementation of the leak detection and response plans.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 365, Sec. 2. (SB 1137) Effective date (January 1, 2023) suspended pursuant to referendum petition. Effective only if Ch. 365 is approved as a referendum measure at the November 5, 2024, election.)