California Air Resources Board

To All Interested Parties,

California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff invites you to participate in two public workshops conducted jointly with the California Department of Conservation Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) to discuss joint rulemaking activities related to California Senate Bill 1137 (SB 1137). CARB’s presentation will focus on the development of performance standards for the emissions detection systems required within the leak detection and response plans (LDRP) that operators of oil and gas production wells and production facilities located within 3,200 feet of certain populated areas (health protection zones) must submit to CalGEM for approval under the new legislation. CalGEM’s presentation will focus on the process to make permanent emergency regulations regarding health protection zones for oil and gas operations.

The workshops will be held on the evenings of Wednesday, March 19, 2025, and Thursday, March 20, 2025, via remote access through Zoom. See below for details. Both workshops will include the same material and are open to the public. Participation by all parties is encouraged.

The workshops will include brief presentations by staff from CalGEM and CARB with information on SB 1137 and each agency’s responsibilities. The presentations will be followed by time for participant questions and comments. Prior to the first workshop, CARB staff will post an electronic copy of the workshop presentation on CARB’s SB1137 Implementation Webpage. Participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback during the workshops and can submit written commentsuntil April 30, 2025. To the extent CARB is unable to provide responses to questions during the workshop, responses will be provided in writing and posted to the website provided above.

Information for the Remote Workshops

The workshops will be conducted on March 19, 2025, and March 20, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The workshops will be conducted in English with Spanish interpretation available. Both workshops will be remote attendance only and attendees should register at the links below for the date of their preference. No in-person attendance will be offered for either workshop.

First Workshop

• Date:           Wednesday, March 19, 2025
• Time:           5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)
• Location:    Remote via Zoom Webinar
• Link to register for this first workshop:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e4ak0wwdSO6Z57lVyDVLuQ

Once registered, you'll receive a confirmation email with webinar login details. The call in for zoom is as follows:

Join via audio or dial:

• USA 404 443 6397
• USA 877 336 1831 (US Toll Free)
• Conference code: 148676
• Merge code: #91103#

Spanish phone line:

• Phone number: 1-888-455-1820
• Participant Passcode:  3938466

Second Workshop

• Date:           Thursday, March 20, 2025
• Time:           5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)
• Location:    Remote via Zoom Webinar
• Link to register for this second workshop:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_besn0U45T8avUztoZh_vGA

Once registered, you'll receive a confirmation email with webinar login details. The call in for zoom is as follows:

Join via audio or dial:

• USA 404 443 6397
• USA 8773361831 (US Toll Free)
• Conference code: 148676
• Merge code: #91103#

Spanish phone line:

• Phone number:  1-888-455-1820
• Participant Passcode:  6629845

Please use the links provided above to register and participate in the remote workshops on the date of your preference. The same material will be covered on both dates. Registration is required, please do so in advance for these meetings. After registering for either or both events at the links above, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Participants will have the option to participate via the Zoom software platform or access the meeting by telephone with a dial-in number. CARB staff highly recommend participating using the Zoom Desktop or Mobile App for best quality and interactive participation. Participants may ask questions during the workshop using the Zoom platform.

Background

SB 1137 establishes health protection zones (HPZ) around sensitive receptors located within 3,200 feet of oil and gas production wells and production facilities. SB 1137 bans the development of new oil and gas wells in the HPZ except under limited circumstances. SB 1137 requires operators with a production facility or well with a wellhead within an HPZ to develop and submit an LDRP to CalGEM. SB 1137 requires LDRPs to include five key components:

1. An emission detection system;
2. Identification of the chemical constituents, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide, as well as potential toxics of highest concern in the region as identified by the CARB or local air districts that will be detection targets for the emission detection system;
3. An alarm system that effectively, immediately, and reliably alerts the operator of leaks;
4. An alarm response protocol to rapidly identify and repair leaks; and
5. Provisions to notify local communities when a leak source is not identified or repaired within 48 hours and to determine the chemical composition of such leaks.

Under SB 1137, CARB responsibilities include:

1. Adopting regulations as necessary to implement and set performance standards for emission detection systems and leak emission composition determination methods.
2. Along with CalGEM, reviewing and either approving or denying the LDRP.
3. Working with CalGEM to develop methods for providing public access to the data generated by operators from emission detection systems.

California Assembly Bill 218 establishes revised implementation deadlines for LDRP submission and other SB 1137 requirements, including but not limited to the following:

• By July 1, 2028, all operators of existing oil and gas production facilities or wells within the HPZ must develop and submit an LDRP to CalGEM.
• By July 1, 2029, CalGEM, with CARB’s concurrence, must either approve LDRP or provide notice of deficiency.
• By July 1, 2030, operators must fully implement an approved LDRP or suspend all production and injection operations within the HPZ.

CARB staff are currently in the preliminary phase of the rulemaking process to develop regulations to set performance standards for the emission detection systems and leak composition analysis methods. The goal of this workshop is to introduce the rulemaking process and to solicit public input to inform CARB’s technical and economic assessments that will provide the basis for CARB’s alternatives analysis and regulatory proposal for the performance standards.

Subscribe for Email Updates

To receive notifications and updates on CARB’s rulemaking activities related to SB 1137, please sign up for the email subscription service via the link below (SB 1137 Implementation: Leak Detection and Response Plans for Oil and Natural Gas). CARB staff will use the email list to notify interested parties of upcoming workshops, draft documents available for public review, and additional opportunities for public input throughout the rulemaking process.

Special Accommodation Request

If you require special accommodations or need this document in an alternative format (i.e., Braille, large print) or another language, please email SB1137Implementation@arb.ca.gov, no later than 15 business days before the scheduled meeting. TTY/TDD/Speech to Speech users may dial 711 for California Relay Service.

Contact

We welcome and encourage your participation in these workshops. Your input is invaluable as CARB staff develops regulations to set performance standards for the emission detection systems. If you have questions about the workshops or SB 1137 implementation, please contact us via email at SB1137implementation@arb.ca.gov.