State Air Resources Board: internet website: methane emissions data., the official text

An act to add Section 39732 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to air pollution.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. Existing law requires the state board to approve and begin implementing a comprehensive short-lived climate pollutant strategy, as specified, to achieve a reduction in the statewide emissions of methane by 40% below 2013 levels by 2030, and requires methane emissions reduction goals to include specified targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organics. The state board has implemented regulations pursuant to the act for the purpose of reducing methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills.
This bill would require the state board to post on its internet website temperature and monitoring data received by the state board regarding methane emissions from landfills.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:
(1) California’s original landfill methane regulations (LMRs) were adopted by the State Air Resources Board (state board) in 2010, as a discrete early action measure under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
(2) The LMRs require owners and operators to install and optimally operate landfill gas collection and control systems to minimize emissions, monitor surface methane concentration and other performance parameters, repair emission exceedances and other performance issues, conduct source testing of combustion devices used to destroy methane, keep records of these actions and data, and report compliance information to the state board and local air pollution control districts and air quality management districts.
(3) In 2025, the state board recognized opportunities to improve the LMRs and strengthen the state board’s and the air quality management districts’ and air pollution control districts’ ability to support safe and effective operation of landfill gas collection and control systems.
(4) The proposed amendments aim to leverage new technologies, the latest science and data, and lessons learned to drive further methane emissions reductions in support of the state’s ambitious methane emissions reduction goals.
(5) In addition to reducing methane emissions, improving landfill gas collection and control also reduces emissions of copollutants such as toxic air contaminants, volatile organic compounds, and odorous compounds.
(b) The Legislature further finds and declares the following:
(1) Implementation of the LMRs will support the state’s climate goals and reduce impacts to communities living and working near landfills.
(2) Publicly posting landfill temperature and monitoring data will increase trust and transparency while allowing communities to take proactive steps to protect and advocate for themselves.

SEC. 2.
Section 39732 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
39732.
The state board shall post on its internet website temperature and monitoring data received by the state board regarding methane emissions from landfills.