Meeting Notices
Methane Task Force Public Meeting #9The Methane Task Force will host its next Public Meeting on
Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the evening. The Task Force is comprised of the Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) Division, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and their umbrella agencies, the California Natural Resources Agency and California Environmental Protection Agency.
The virtual public meeting will cover a recap of CalGEM and CARB’s joint workshops on Senate Bill 1137, updates from CARB on the Satellite Methane Project Update as well as the Methane Regulation, and an update on CalGEM’s Project Plug program.
Date: Tuesday, May 27
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Or join by telephone:
For English: 1-877-336-1831 | Passcode: 148676
For Spanish: 1-888-455-1820 | Passcode: 4269993
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 included 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 ended August 19, 2024.
Learn More About the Taskforce
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.
Past Task Force Meetings
Methane Task Force Public Meeting #8 - October 16, 2024
Methane Task Force Public Meeting #07 - July 16, 2024
Methane Task Force Public Meeting #6 - February 29, 2024
Methane Task Force Public Meeting #5 - October 17, 2023
Methane Task Force Public Meeting #4 - June 27, 2023
Methane Task Force @ the AB 617 Oil & Gas 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
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 joint 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:
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California Geologic Energy Management Division
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California Air Resources Board
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California Natural Resources Agency
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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 EffortsContact Us
