California regulators approve rules to reduce methane leaks and prevent fires from losing land
In one of the most low-profile environmental decisions this year, California aviation fans are adopting new laws designed to reduce methane leaks and quickly respond to serious underground fires in singing areas.
Members of the California Air Ailers Board voted 12-0 on Thursday to approve a set of new rules for 200 large landfills, designed to reduce emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas produced by organic decomposition. Landfings are California’s second largest source of Methane emissions, following only large dairy cattle and livestock herds.
The new requirements will force landfill operators to install additional pollution controls; A comprehensive investigation of methane leaks in parts of the earth’s purity that are not accessible by on-the-ground monitoring using new technologies such as drones and satellites; And fix machine downtime as fast as possible. Landfill operators will also be required to fix leaks identified by California’s new satellite receiver system.
The regulation is expected to prevent the emission of 17,000 metric tons annually – an amount capable of warming the atmosphere by 110,000 gas stoves for a year.
And it will reduce harmful landfill pollution, such as harmful sulfur and lung and cancer-causing Benzene. Landfill operators will be required to keep better track of high temperatures and take steps to reduce the risk of fire that heat can cause.
There are underground fires burning in at least two landfills in southern California – a chemical reaction that ignites the waste, releasing toxic fumes and pollutants. Regulators are finding explosive levels of methane from other spills around the world.
During the hearing of the equipment vehicle three hours before the vote, the people of California live near the Chiquita Canyon Landfill – one of the known sites where garbage burns underground –
“If these laws are already renewed, maybe my family wouldn’t get sick,” said Steven, a 27-year resident of Vervede. “My house will not be sold. My best friend and neighbor would still live next door to me. And I would not beg you now. You have the power to change this.”
Worldfill Operators, including companies and local governments, expressed their concern about the cost and manpower required to comply with the regulation.
“We want to make sure that this law works in our communities, not John Kennedy’s attorney, a poorly performing rural association that represents 58 counties of the state, many of which are working. “While we support the additional goals of the law, we are always more concerned about the specific measures including the law.”
Lauren Sanchez, who was appointed by the Chairman of the California Air Resources Board in California in October, recently went to the United Nations’ climate conference in Brazil with Gov. Gavin Newloom. What he learned at the conference, he said, made it clear to him that the release of California methane has had international consequences, and that the State has a priority to reduce it.
“The science is clear, act now to reduce emissions of Methane and other greenhouse gases is the best way to slow down the pace of climate change,” said Sanchez.
