California Air Resources Board

Would have added pipelines transporting carbon dioxide to the State requirements for pipelines carrying hazardous liquids. Would also have required the State Fire Marshal to adopt safety-related regulations governing intrastate pipelines transporting carbon dioxide, as specified, and precluded pipelines from transporting carbon dioxide to or from a carbon capture and sequestration project until those regulations are adopted. Finally, would have added carbon dioxide transportation safety requirements to the unified permit application for the construction and operation of a carbon dioxide capture and sequestration projects. Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee, at the request of the author.

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Would have made a non-substantive change to the requirement that the California Natural Resources Agency establish a mechanism for retiring the listing of a project that has been funded. Amended to deal with small business eligibility for State contracts.

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Summary

Would have required CARB, by January 1, 2027, to conduct an analysis of credits identified in the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District’s (District) ledger of available emission reduction credits (ERCs) to determine if any credits were issued in violation of State, local, or district laws, rules, regulations, or procedures in place at the time of original issuance. The bill would have required CARB to submit a report to the Legislature summarizing the analysis results. The bill would have required the District to aggregate and make publicly available on its website specified information regarding permits issued during a specified 17-year span that would require or would have required the use of one or more ERCs. Was not heard on Assembly Concurrence.

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Summary

Would have added four public members to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Board that are appointed by the Governor to serve four-year terms. Of these four, one member would have been required to be from a California Native American tribe chosen from a list of candidates submitted by local tribal organizations with a presence within the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, and three members would have been required to be appointed with the advice and consent of the Speaker of the Assembly. Of those three, two would have been required to have subject matter expertise in environmental justice or social justice issues and been selected from a list submitted by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, and one would have been required to be a youth member between 18 and 26 years of age and been selected from a list submitted by either a youth-serving nonprofit organization or an institution of higher education, as specified. The bill also would have made changes to board member terms. Was not heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee.

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Summary

Requires CARB, by January 1, 2027, to conduct an analysis of credits identified in the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District’s (District) ledger of available emission reduction credits (ERCs) to determine if any credits were issued in violation of State, local, or district laws, rules, regulations, or procedures in place at the time of original issuance. The bill requires CARB to submit a report to the Legislature summarizing the analysis results. The bill requires the District to aggregate and make publicly available on its website specified information regarding permits issued during a specified 17-year span that require or required the use of one or more ERCs. Was not heard on Assembly Concurrence.

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Summary

Adds four public members to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Board that are appointed by the Governor to serve 4-year terms. Of these four, one member must be from a California Native American tribe chosen from a list of candidates submitted by local tribal organizations with a presence within the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, and three members must be appointed with the advice and consent of the Speaker of the Assembly. Of those three, two must have subject matter expertise in environmental justice or social justice issues and be selected from a list submitted by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, and one must be a youth member between 18 and 26 years of age and be selected from a list submitted by either a youth-serving nonprofit organization or an institution of higher education, as specified. The bill also makes changes to board member terms. Was not heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB to undertake specified interventions if the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) remains in nonattainment for a national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). These interventions would have included developing a program, rules, or regulations that CARB deems necessary for SJVAPCD to attain NAAQS after a public hearing on CARB’s review of the SJVAPCD attainment plan, rules, regulations, programs, and enforcement practices. This bill also would have required CARB to coordinate with SJVAPCD to provide additional monitoring and enforcement for stationary sources and conduct outreach to under-resourced communities.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2550 without my signature.

This bill requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to intervene and undertake specified activities if the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District does not attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

My Administration is committed to ensuring that the San Joaquin Valley is on a path to attainment of the NAAQS. Statute already allows CARB to reject a local air district's State Implementation Plan element if CARB finds, after a public hearing, that it does not meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act, including if the plan will not provide attainment by the deadline. As such, this bill is unnecessary.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Would have codified the longstanding California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and its duties, originally established through Executive Order. The bill would have provided the Partnership’s duties would have included identifying projects and programs that will improve the economic vitality of the San Joaquin Valley, and reviewing State policies and regulations to ensure they are fair and appropriate for the State’s diverse geographic regions, as well as determining whether alternative approaches can accomplish goals in more cost-effectively. The bill would have provided the Partnership membership requirements, including government agency liaisons who may serve on CARB, as specified. Amended to deal with spousal rape.

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