Section 95669.1 - Remotely Detected Emission Plumes(a) Beginning April 1, 2024, CARB may issue a notification to an owner or operator if remote monitoring data includes a methane emission plume at their facility. (1) The remote monitoring data shall be generated by a remote monitoring technology approved by the CARB Executive Officer if, in their best engineering judgment, the technology demonstrates a capability to detect methane emission plumes and meets all the following requirements: (A) Spatial resolution of 30 meters by 30 meters or better.(B) Data available to CARB within 72 hours of collection.(C) Produces a visualization of the emission plume.(2) The notification shall be sent electronically to the e-mail address supplied by the facility owner or operator pursuant to section 95674(b)(2) within seven (7) business days of CARB receiving the remote monitoring data. The notification shall contain all the following information: (A) An emission ID number.(B) An estimate of the latitude and longitude coordinates where the emission plume appears to be originating.(C) A visualization of the emission plume.(D) The date and time of the emission plume detection.(b) When an owner or operator receives a notification from CARB pursuant to section 95669.1(a), the owner or operator shall inspect the facility for leaking or venting components and equipment within five (5) calendar days of the notification using optical gas imaging instruments or US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017) as specified in section 95669(b), unless section 95669.1(b)(1) applies. (1) If the owner or operator has records demonstrating that venting was occurring at the time of the remote emission plume detection due to an activity (e.g., maintenance), the owner or operator may report that activity in accordance with section 95673(a)(14) instead of performing an inspection. The records demonstrating that venting was occurring due to an activity shall be maintained as specified in section 95672(a)(23).(2) The inspection shall be performed until one of the following occurs: (A) All components and equipment under the control of the owner or operator within at least a 100-meter radius of the location sent in the notification have been inspected; or(B) The emission source is found.(c) Within 72 hours after conducting an inspection pursuant to section 95669.1(b), the owner or operator shall report to CARB the information specified in section 95673(a)(15).(d) The owner or operator shall perform the following actions depending on the results of the inspection required in section 95669.1(b):(1) If the emission source is determined to be the result of venting, the owner or operator shall report to CARB the information specified in section 95673(a)(16) within five (5) calendar days after conducting the inspection.(2) If the emission source is a component leak identified by US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017), the owner or operator shall successfully repair the leak in accordance with the repair timeframes specified in section 95669 and shall report to CARB the information specified in section 95673(a)(17) within five (5) calendar days after the repair.(3) If the emission source is identified by optical gas imaging and determined to be an unintentional emission source from a component, the owner or operator shall measure the leak concentration using US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017) as specified in section 95669(b) within two (2) calendar days of conducting the inspection or within 14 calendar days of conducting the inspection if the component is inaccessible or unsafe to monitor.(A) If the measured leak concentration is below the leak threshold specified in section 95669, the owner or operator shall report the information specified in section 95673(a)(18) within five (5) calendar days after performing the US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017) measurement.(B) If the measured leak concentration is above the leak threshold specified in section 95669, the owner or operator shall successfully repair the leak in accordance with the repair timeframes specified in section 95669 and shall report to CARB the information specified in section 95673(a)(17) within five (5) calendar days after the repair.(4) If the emission source is an unintentional emission source that is not from a component, the owner or operator shall repair the emission source within two (2) calendar days of discovery and shall report to CARB the information specified in section 95673(a)(17) within five (5) calendar days after the repair.(e) The owner or operator shall maintain, and make available upon request by the CARB Executive Officer, a record of the information specified in Appendix A, Table A8 for each notification received and shall report this to CARB annually as specified in section 95673 of this subarticle.(f) The owner or operator shall maintain, and make available upon request by the CARB Executive Officer, a record of all leaks found above the minimum leak threshold as specified in Appendix A, Table A5 and shall report the results to CARB annually as specified in section 95673 of this subarticle.(g) A delay of repair may be granted by the CARB Executive Officer as specified in section 95670.1 of this subarticle.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 95669.1
Note: Authority cited: Sections 38510, 38562, 39600, 39601 and 41511, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 38551, 38560, 38566, 39600 and 41511, Health and Safety Code.
1. New section filed 3-4-2024; operative 4/1/2024 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2024, No. 10).