Methane Task Force

​​​​​​Meeting Notices​

​TBA


For questions, please contact the Methane Task Force team at: MethaneTaskForce@conservation.ca.gov. 

​Recent Actions

​State Oil and Gas Well ​​Abandonment Expenditure Plan - Phase 2​​ DRAFT

July 16, 2024:​​ CalGEM​​ released its Phase 2 State Abandonment Draft Expenditure Plan​ on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. during a virtual public meeting. ​The draft plan includes the second phase of orphan wells proposed for permanent plugging and sealing using state and federal funds. The release began a 45-day public comment period that ends August ​19, 2024.​ All public comments received will be considered for incorporation into the plan.

Learn More About the Taskforce​

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Public Comment for Leak Detection at Oil and Gas Operations

On February 29 the Department of Conservation’s California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) released a Request for Information seeking feedback on technologies and processes that can be used to effectively ensure leaks associated with oil and gas operations are being detected. The release began a 45-day public comment period that ended​ on May 31.​

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Past Task Force Meetings

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Methane Task Force Public Meeting #8 - October 16, 2024​​


​​Methane Task Force Public Meeting #07 - July 16, 2024​

Methane Task Force Public Mee​​ting #6 - February 29, 2024​​

Methane Task Force Public Mee​​ting #5 - October 17, 2023​

 
​Methane Task Force Public Meeting #4 - June 27, 2023​


Methane Task Force @ the AB 617 Oil & G​as Steering Committee Meeting - May 31, 2023

CalGEM, along with CARB and the San Joaquin Valley Air District, presented to community members the results from the most recent oil well field inspections in the Arvin/Lamont community​. The three agencies inspected more than 60 wells in the area during the week of May 22. This is an effort of the Methane Task Force to support the AB 617 Arvin/Lamont Community Emissions Reduction Plan.​

Methane Task Force​ Public Meeting #3 – February 21, 2023
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Methane Task Force Public Meeting #2 – October 20, 2022


​Methane Task Force Public Meeting #1 – September 15, 2022
Summary of Questions Received and Responses

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Task Force Background

The Methane Task Force, a join​​​t effort led by CalGEM and CARB, seeks to identify and respond to methane leaks from oil infrastructure near communities, as well as address the outsized impact methane has on climate change.

Called for by Governor Newsom in a July 2022 letter to CARB Chair Liane Randolph​, the Task Force will convene on a regular basis to share with the public updates on efforts underway at CalGEM and CARB aimed at addressing methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure, and to elevate opportunities for deeper public and local agency engagement across these programs and efforts.

Members

The Methane Task Force is made up of representatives from the following partnering state agencies:

  • California Geologic Energy Management Division
  • California Air Resources Board 
  • California Natural Resources Agency
  • California Environmental Protection Agency
​In support of the AB 617 Arvin/Lamont Community Emissions Reduction Plan, the Methane Task Force held joint inspections in 2023 to identify and respond to methane leaks from oil infrastructures in the community​. Read about the joint inspections efforts here: Methane Task Force Joint Inspection Efforts​

Contact Us

Reach out via email at MethaneTaskForce@conservation.ca.gov. 

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