Methane bill includes some safeguards for Calif. dairies

A bill to reduce methane emissions from California’s dairies and livestock operations is headed to the governor following its passage on the final day of the state Legislature’s regular session.  SB 1383 would require the state Air Resources Board to begin implementing a strategy to reduce methane emissions 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030. Implementation would be required no later than Jan. 1, 2018, with regulations to take effect on or after Jan. 1, 2024.  Originally opposed by the dairy industry — which argued the mandate would target dairy operations with unachievable goals, no viable strategy and no financial assistance — the bill survived with some added safeguards to make it slightly more palatable.  The livestock portion of the bill pertains to manure management and requires that regulations to reduce emissions be economically and technica lly feasible and foregoes ARB’s proposal to directly regulate enteric emissions from livestock. It defines what ARB’s authority is related to the dairy industry, as opposed to unrestrained authority given the agency in SB 32 — which establishes a new mandate of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, said Rob Vandenheuvel, manager of Milk Producers Council. SB 32 doubles down on a 2006 legislative goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, giving ARB virtually unlimited authority to meet that goal, he said.