The California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff invites you to participate in a public workshop to discuss preliminary activities related to Senate Bill (SB) 1137 (Gonzalez, Chapter 365, Statutes of 2022) (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB1137&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery). SB 1137 requires operators of oil and gas production wells and facilities located within health protection zones (HPZ) to submit Leak Detection and Response Plans (LDRPs) that include details on the installation of continuously operating emissions detection systems (EDS). SB 1137 directs CARB to develop performance standards for the EDS through regulation.

CARB’s presentation will focus on:

• Draft performance standards for the continuously operating emissions detection systems;
• Draft documents to support CARB’s preliminary rulemaking activities and the proposal;
• Preliminary cost estimates for staff's proposal; and
• The formal solicitation of alternatives to staff’s proposal.

The workshop will be held on the evening of Thursday, July 16, 2026, via Zoom. See below for details including the registration instructions. Participation by all parties is encouraged.

The time remaining after CARB staff presentation will be reserved for participant questions and comments. Prior to the workshop, an electronic copy of the workshop presentation will be posted on CARB’s SB 1137 Implementation Webpage (//ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/senate-bill-1137-establishment-health-protection-zones-oil-and-gas-production). Participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback both during the workshop and by written comments until August 17, 2026. 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.

Workshop Details

The workshop will be conducted on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pacific standard time and will be conducted in English with Spanish interpretation available. The workshop will be remote attendance only and attendees should register at the link below. No in-person attendance will be offered.

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Remote via Zoom

Please register (https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ld5tLKozS3Obb_3OkCt8Tw?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#/registration) for the Zoom workshop.

Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with Zoom meeting details.

Join via audio or dial:
USA: +1 408-961-3929
USA (Toll Free): +1 855-758-1310
Meeting ID: 828 5911 6042

Passcode: 083712

Please use the link provided above to register and participate in the remote workshop. Registration is required, so please do so in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom meeting. Participants will have the option to participate via the Zoom 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 HPZ around sensitive receptors located within 3,200 feet of oil and gas production wells and production facilities. SB 1137 requires operators with a production facility or well with a wellhead within an HPZ to develop and submit an LDRP that must include five (5) key components:

1. A continuously operating emissions detection system (EDS);
2. Identification of the chemical constituents (e.g., methane, hydrogen sulfide) as well as potential toxic of highest concern in the region, as identified by CARB or local air districts, that will be detection targets for the EDS;
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.

The California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), as the lead agency under SB 1137, has final determination in the applicability of SB 1137 requirements to oil and gas facility operators in California.

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

CARB staff are currently in the preliminary phase of the rulemaking process to develop regulations to set performance standards for EDS and leak composition analysis methods. The goal of this workshop is to introduce draft technical support documents and the draft performance standards developed by CARB staff for the EDS, as well as to solicit public comment and input on alternatives to staff’s proposal. The draft technical support documents and the draft performance standards will be made available on CARB’s SB 1137 Implementation webpage (//ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/senate-bill-1137-establishment-health-protection-zones-oil-and-gas-production) in the weeks prior to the workshop.

Solicitation of Alternatives

CARB welcomes public input, and staff invites you to submit alternatives to the draft performance standards presented at this workshop. CARB encourages public input on alternative approaches that may yield the same or greater benefits than those associated with the proposed regulation or may achieve the goals at lower cost. Please submit information on alternatives, including details on cost, if known, by August 17, 2026, to CARB's SB 1137 workshop public comment docket (//ww2.arb.ca.gov/public-comments/SB-1137-workshop-development-performance-standards-EDS). Parties wishing to submit confidential business information in support of their comments should know that CARB protects submitted confidential information that meets the requirements of the California Code of Regulations, title 17, sections 91011 and 91022. More information about submitting confidential information is available on our website (//ww2.arb.ca.gov/privacy-conditions-use). Additional questions related to submitting confidential information to CARB may be directed to the SB 1137 Implementation email (mailto:sb1137implementation@arb.ca.gov).

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 (mailto: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.

Subscribe

To receive notifications and updates on CARB’s rulemaking activities related to SB 1137 implementation, please sign up for the email subscription (https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/CARB/subscriber/new?topic_id=SB1137). CARB staff will use the subscriber list to notify interested parties of upcoming workshops, draft documents available for public review, and additional opportunities for public input throughout the rulemaking process.