SB 1259

Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to submit an assessment to the Governor and the Legislature that, among other things, identifies methods to ensure a reliable supply of affordable and safe transportation fuels in California. This bill would require, on or before an unspecified date, the board, in consultation with specified entities, to develop guidelines for estimating the costs and timelines associated with decommissioning a refinery, as defined, and soil and groundwater remediation at refinery sites. The bill would require, on or before an unspecified date, each refiner, as defined, with an operating refinery to submit a report, including an estimate of the refinery’s asset retirement obligations and a plan for meeting those obligations, to the board in accordance with those guidelines. The bill would require the commission to incorporate the information contained in the reports in its ongoing work to develop a comprehensive transportation fuels transition strategy. The bill would require the board to provide a copy of the report to the commission for that purpose.