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AB-1903 Aliso Canyon gas leak: health impact study.(2015-2016)

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AB1903:v95#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  June 22, 2016
Amended  IN  Senate  June 20, 2016
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 31, 2016
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 04, 2016

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2015–2016 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1903

Introduced by Assembly Member Wilk
(Coauthor: Senator Pavley)

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 amended, 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 requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to evaluate the environmental and health risks posed by various substances.
This bill, if sufficient moneys are recovered by the commission and appropriated for the purpose of these provisions, would require the commission to authorize a study by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of 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 publish and transmit the report by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and its ongoing findings to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature on a biennial basis, on or before January 1 of every even-numbered year, from 2018 until 2028. The bill would require the commission, consistent with its authority to bring enforcement actions, to order Southern California Gas Company to pay for the study. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2029.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

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

911.3.
 (a) If sufficient moneys are appropriated as specified in subdivision (d), the commission shall authorize a study by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of 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. The study shall include, but is not limited to, both of the following:
(1) An investigation of the impact of the natural gas leak on the health of persons who resided within a 12-mile radius of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in the County of Los Angeles between October 23, 2015, and the date when the State Oil and Gas Supervisor has determined that the gas well safety review conducted pursuant to Order 1109, issued by the State Oil and Gas Supervisor on March 4, 2016, is complete.
(2) An evaluation of the impact on residents due to exposure to chemicals, including, but not limited to, methane, benzene, and mercaptan.
(b) The commission shall publish and transmit the report by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and its ongoing findings to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature on a biennial basis, on or before January 1 of every even-numbered year, from 2018 until 2028.
(c) (1) Consistent with its authority to bring enforcement actions under this part, the commission shall order Southern California Gas Company to pay for the study described in subdivision (a).
(2) If the commission penalizes Southern California Gas Company for its responsibilities related to the natural gas leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility, the commission may include the costs of the study described in subdivision (a) in any penalty assessment.
(d) The commission shall authorize and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall undertake the study described in subdivision (a) only if the commission has recovered sufficient moneys to pay the costs of the entire study pursuant to subdivision (c) and the Legislature has appropriated those moneys for the purpose of this section.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2029, deletes or extends that date.