Bill Text: CA AB1903 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Aliso Canyon gas leak: health impact study.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [AB1903 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1903-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 1903	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 22, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 20, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 31, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 4, 2016

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.
State-mandated 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.