The Air Resources Board will conduct a two-day public hearing in Sacramento in July on the  proposed Regulation for Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities.

The hearing will be held at the Board’s Byron Sher Auditorium, 1001 I St., in Sacramento. It will begin 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, and reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on the following day. The agenda will be available at least 10 days in advance.

The proposed regulation covers greenhouse gas emissions, predominately methane, from oil and natural gas production, boosting stations and processing, as well as from gas storage and transmission compressor stations.

It addresses both vented (intentional) and fugitive (unintentional) releases of greenhouse gases at these facilities.

The regulation would establish emission standards for active and idle equipment and components, and would cover emission control methods including vapor recovery, leak detection and repair, and equipment replacement.

Additionally, it would regulate monitoring of underground natural gas storage facilities for the early detection of large leaks or well failures.

Members of the public can present comments orally or in writing at the hearing, and can provide comments by mail or online before the hearing. The public comment period begins on June 3.  Written comments not submitted at the hearing must be submitted on or after June 3, and received no later than 5:00 pm on July 18.

The mailing address for comments is: Clerk of the Board, Air Resources Board, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814. Electronic submittals can be sent online.

This notice and all related regulatory documents are available on the ARB’s website.

Those with questions about the substance of the proposed regulation can contact Mr. Joe Fischer, Air Resources Engineer, Oil and Gas Section, at (916) 445-0071, or Ms. Joelle Howe, Air Pollution Specialist, Oil and Gas Section, at (916) 322-6349.