California 2017-2018 Regular Session Status: Passed Assembly

AB 3146 — Oil and gas: well records and testing requirements.

Last action — Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 30. Noes 35. Page 5665.).

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Assembly” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

(1) Existing law requires the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to supervise the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells. Existing law requires an owner or operator of a well to keep, or cause to be kept, and requires the operator to file with the district deputy at specified times, a careful and accurate log, core record, and history of the drilling of the well. Existing law provides that a person who fails to comply with specific laws relating to the regulation of oil or gas operations, including failing to furnish a report or record, or rendering a false report, is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would additionally require the owner or operator to keep, or cause to be kept, a history of the maintenance and repair of the well. Because a violation of this requirement would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law authorizes the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to order or undertake certain operations, as applicable, to be carried out on any property in the vicinity of which, or on which, is located any well or facility that the supervisor determines to be a hazardous well, an idle-deserted well, a hazardous facility, or a deserted facility, as defined. This bill, for any action ordered to be carried out, or undertaken, by the supervisor pursuant to those provisions, for the purpose of abandonment or reabandonment of a well or for the purpose of remedying, mitigating, minimizing, or eliminating danger to life, health, and natural resources, until January 1, 2025, would require the supervisor to perform specified testing, including followup testing if specified conditions are met, of any well and associated equipment being plugged and abandoned to determine the presence of atmospheric emissions of hydrocarbon pollutants before the initiation of physical work, and ensure that the results of any tests performed pursuant to these provisions are posted on the division's Internet Web site and transmitted to the State Air Resources Board as soon as reasonably possible after testing is performed. The bill would authorize the supervisor, in consultation with the state board, to develop alternative methodologies for testing undertaken pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources and the state board to jointly assemble and perform an appropriate analysis of specified information for the purposes of determining the effectiveness and appropriateness of existing and planned measures to perform research on or control emissions from idle and abandoned oil and gas wells in the state, and would require the division and the state board, on or before December 31, 2025, to make the results of the analysis available on their respective Internet Web sites. The bill would repeal all of these provisions on January 1, 2026. (3) Existing law requires the operator of any idle well to either file with the supervisor a certain annual fee or file a plan with the supervisor to provide for the management and elimination of all long-term idle wells, as specified. Under existing law, a person who fails to comply with an order issued under these provisions and other requirements relating to the regulation of oil or gas operations is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill, for any proximity well, as defined, to be plugged and abandoned, including wells to be plugged and abandoned pursuant to an idle well management plan that is on file with the supervisor or pursuant to specified provisions, until January 1, 2025, would require the operator of the well to (A) perform specified testing, including followup testing if specified conditions are met, of any well and associated equipment being plugged and abandoned to determine the presence of atmospheric emissions of hydrocarbon pollutants before the initiation of physical work, and (B) report the results of any tests performed pursuant to these provisions to the supervisor. Because a violation of these requirements by an operator would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the supervisor to post the results received form the operator on the division's Internet Web site and transmit the results to the State Air Resources Board as soon as reasonably possible after testing is performed. The bill would authorize the supervisor, in consultation with the state board, to develop alternative methodologies for testing undertaken pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources and the state board to jointly assemble and perform an appropriate analysis of all information received by the supervisor pursuant to these provisions for the purposes of determining the effectiveness and appropriateness of existing and planned measures to perform research on or control emissions from idle and abandoned oil and gas wells in the state, and would require the division and the state board, on or before December 31, 2025, to make the results of the analysis available on their respective Internet Web sites. The bill would repeal all of these provisions on January 1, 2026. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Read third time. Refused passage. (Ayes 30. Noes 35. Page 5665.).

  2. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  3. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  4. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 4.) (May 25).

  5. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  6. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  8. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.

  9. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  10. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.

  11. Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  12. From printer. May be heard in committee March 19.

  13. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

  • Holden · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 9 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Holden

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Votes

AB 3146 HOLDEN Assembly Third Reading

Failed 30 Yea · 35 Nay · 13 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 232806
Democratic 7107
Republican 0600
Total 3035013
% of votes cast 38%45%0%17%
How each member voted (78)
Member Party Vote
Acosta — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Bloom — Yea
Brough — Nay
Harper — Nay
Holden — Yea
Low — Nay
Maienschein — Nay
Mathis — Nay
McCarty — Yea
Melendez — Nay
Quirk — Yea
Voepel — Nay
Waldron — Nay
Weber — Not Voting
Friedman — Yea
Gloria — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Kamlager-Dove — Yea
Gonzalez Fletcher — Yea
Levine — Yea
Fong — Nay
Salas — Nay
Mayes — Nay
Chau — Yea
Chiu — Yea
Chu — Yea
Medina — Nay
Mullin — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Rodriguez — Nay
Santiago — Yea
Thurmond — Yea
Ting — Yea
Wood — Yea
Gray — Nay
Burke — Not Voting
Rubio — Not Voting
Kiley — Nay
O'Donnell — Nay
Baker — Nay
Chávez — Not Voting
Cooley — Nay
Obernolte — Nay
Steinorth — Nay
Eggman — Not Voting
Cooper — Nay
Cunningham — Nay
Daly — Nay
Frazier — Nay
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Not Voting
Jim Patterson — Nay
Mark Stone — Yea
Travis Allen — Nay
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Not Voting
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Not Voting
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Not Voting
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Not Voting
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Not Voting
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Not Voting
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Nay
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Not Voting
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Nay
Gallagher, James Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended.

Passed 12 Yea · 4 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9301
Democratic 3000
Republican 0100
Total 12401
% of votes cast 71%24%0%6%
How each member voted (17)
Member Party Vote
Bigelow — Nay
Bloom — Yea
Brough — Not Voting
Nazarian — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Gonzalez Fletcher — Yea
Fong — Nay
Friedman — Yea
Chau — Yea
Obernolte — Nay
Quirk — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 7 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4200
Democratic 3000
Republican 0100
Total 7300
% of votes cast 70%30%0%0%
How each member voted (10)
Member Party Vote
Acosta — Nay
McCarty — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Chau — Yea
Melendez — Nay
Mark Stone — Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment energy
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 3146 do?
(1) Existing law requires the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to supervise the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells. Existing law requires an owner or operator of a well to keep, or cause to be kept, and requires the operator to file with the district deputy at specified times, a careful and accurate log, core record, and history of the drilling of the well. Existing law provides that a person who fails to comply with specific laws relating to the regulation of oil or gas operations, including failing to furnish a report or record, or rendering a false report, is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would additionally require the owner or operator to keep, or cause to be kept, a history of the maintenance and repair of the well. Because a violation of this requirement would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law authorizes the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to order or undertake certain operations, as applicable, to be carried out on any property in the vicinity of which, or on which, is located any well or facility that the supervisor determines to be a hazardous well, an idle-deserted well, a hazardous facility, or a deserted facility, as defined. This bill, for any action ordered to be carried out, or undertaken, by the supervisor pursuant to those provisions, for the purpose of abandonment or reabandonment of a well or for the purpose of remedying, mitigating, minimizing, or eliminating danger to life, health, and natural resources, until January 1, 2025, would require the supervisor to perform specified testing, including followup testing if specified conditions are met, of any well and associated equipment being plugged and abandoned to determine the presence of atmospheric emissions of hydrocarbon pollutants before the initiation of physical work, and ensure that the results of any tests performed pursuant to these provisions are posted on the division's Internet Web site and transmitted to the State Air Resources Board as soon as reasonably possible after testing is performed. The bill would authorize the supervisor, in consultation with the state board, to develop alternative methodologies for testing undertaken pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources and the state board to jointly assemble and perform an appropriate analysis of specified information for the purposes of determining the effectiveness and appropriateness of existing and planned measures to perform research on or control emissions from idle and abandoned oil and gas wells in the state, and would require the division and the state board, on or before December 31, 2025, to make the results of the analysis available on their respective Internet Web sites. The bill would repeal all of these provisions on January 1, 2026. (3) Existing law requires the operator of any idle well to either file with the supervisor a certain annual fee or file a plan with the supervisor to provide for the management and elimination of all long-term idle wells, as specified. Under existing law, a person who fails to comply with an order issued under these provisions and other requirements relating to the regulation of oil or gas operations is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill, for any proximity well, as defined, to be plugged and abandoned, including wells to be plugged and abandoned pursuant to an idle well management plan that is on file with the supervisor or pursuant to specified provisions, until January 1, 2025, would require the operator of the well to (A) perform specified testing, including followup testing if specified conditions are met, of any well and associated equipment being plugged and abandoned to determine the presence of atmospheric emissions of hydrocarbon pollutants before the initiation of physical work, and (B) report the results of any tests performed pursuant to these provisions to the supervisor. Because a violation of these requirements by an operator would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the supervisor to post the results received form the operator on the division's Internet Web site and transmit the results to the State Air Resources Board as soon as reasonably possible after testing is performed. The bill would authorize the supervisor, in consultation with the state board, to develop alternative methodologies for testing undertaken pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources and the state board to jointly assemble and perform an appropriate analysis of all information received by the supervisor pursuant to these provisions for the purposes of determining the effectiveness and appropriateness of existing and planned measures to perform research on or control emissions from idle and abandoned oil and gas wells in the state, and would require the division and the state board, on or before December 31, 2025, to make the results of the analysis available on their respective Internet Web sites. The bill would repeal all of these provisions on January 1, 2026. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors AB 3146?
AB 3146 is sponsored by Holden.
What is the current status of AB 3146?
This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Assembly” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 3146?
Track AB 3146 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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