(a) The state board, in consultation with any local air district and the Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation, shall develop a natural gas storage facility monitoring program that includes continuous monitoring of the ambient concentration of natural gas at sufficient locations throughout a natural gas storage facility or planned natural gas storage facility to identify natural gas leaks and the presence of natural gas emissions in the atmosphere. The continuous monitoring program may be supplemented by daily leak detection measurements.

(b) (1) The program shall include guidelines for the continuous monitoring which shall include, at minimum, optical gas imaging, where applicable, and accurate quantitative monitoring of natural gas concentrations. The program shall include protocols for both stationary and mobile monitoring, as well as fixed and temporary monitoring locations.

(2) The program shall require optical gas imaging when a large, ongoing leak occurs.

(c) An operator of a natural gas storage facility shall develop and submit to the state board a facility monitoring plan that satisfies program requirements pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b). The state board shall review the plan and may approve or disapprove the plan.

(d) An operator of a natural gas storage facility shall conduct monitoring in accordance with the facility monitoring plan approved by the state board pursuant to subdivision (c).

(e) An operator of a natural gas storage facility shall provide monitoring data to the state board. All materials provided to comply with this section shall be posted and available to the public on the internet website of the state board.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 771, Sec. 4. (AB 1057) Effective January 1, 2020.)