Bill Text: CA AB982 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Oil and gas: hydraulic fracturing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB982 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB982-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 982	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Williams
   (Coauthor: Senator Wolk)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add Sections 3017, 3203.1, and 3203.2 to the Public
Resources Code, relating to oil and gas.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 982, as introduced, Williams. Oil and gas: hydraulic
fracturing.
   Under existing law, the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal
Resources (DOGGR) in the Department of Conservation regulates the
drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas
wells in the state. The State Oil and Gas Supervisor (supervisor)
supervises the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of
wells and the operation, maintenance, and removal or abandonment of
tanks and facilities related to oil and gas production within an oil
and gas field regarding safety and environmental damage. Existing law
requires an operator of a well, before commencing the work of
drilling the well, to provide notice to, and obtain approval from,
the supervisor or district deputy.
   This bill would define "hydraulic fracturing." The bill would also
require any notice of intent to drill, rework, or deepen a well
where hydraulic fracturing will occur to include a groundwater
monitoring plan for review and approval by the supervisor and the
appropriate regional water quality control board, which would contain
specific information relating to groundwater, water quality, and the
monitoring of wells and water quality. The bill would further
require any notice of intent to provide specific information
regarding the amount of water, the source of the water, and the
method of disposal of produced wastewater during hydraulic fracturing
operations.
   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 3017 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   3017.  "Hydraulic fracturing" means the injection of fluids or
gases into an underground geologic formation with the intention to
cause or enhance fractures in the underground geologic formation, in
order to cause or enhance the production of oil or gas from a well.
Alternate terms include, but are not limited to, "fracking,"
"hydrofracking," and "hydrofracturing."
  SEC. 2.  Section 3203.1 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   3203.1.  (a) As part of any notice of intent to drill, rework, or
deepen a well where hydraulic fracturing will occur, the operator
shall provide a groundwater monitoring plan for review and approval
by the supervisor and the appropriate regional water quality control
board. The groundwater monitoring plan shall include, at a minimum,
all of the following information:
   (1)  The current water quality of the groundwater basin through
which the well will be drilled that is sufficient to characterize the
quality of the aquifer and identify the zone of influence of the
proposed well.
   (2) Water quality data or a plan to obtain data regarding the
presence and concentration of the constituents to be used in, or that
can be influenced by, the drilling process.
   (3) A plan that includes sites for monitoring wells, which will
allow the detection of contamination associated with well operation
during and after the period of its active use.
   (4) An emergency monitoring plan that will be implemented in the
case of well casing failure or any other event which has the
potential to contaminate groundwater.
   (b) Water quality monitoring data shall be submitted
electronically to the State Water Resource Control Board geotracker
database and any public data registry identified by the division for
disclosure of hydraulic fracturing data.
   (c) This section shall not apply if the appropriate regional water
quality control board confirms that the proposed well will not
penetrate or will not be located within the zone of influence of an
aquifer that is designated for a beneficial use.
  SEC. 3.  Section 3203.2 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   3203.2.  Any notice of intent to drill, rework, or deepen a well
where hydraulic fracturing will occur, shall include all of the
following information:
   (a) A description of the estimated quantity of water planned to be
used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
   (b) The source or sources of the water to be used.
   (c) A specific plan for disposing of wastewater produced by the
hydraulic fracturing process.