Newsom Vetoes Bill Seeking To Tighten Refinery-Adjacent Air Monitoring Rules

"California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday vetoed a bill aimed at tightening air pollution monitoring provisions for so-called fence-line zones that mark the perimeter of oil refineries.

“While I share the author’s desire to protect communities from air pollution, local air quality management districts are already carrying out the necessary action to do just that,” Newsom said in his veto message.

The bill in question, SB 674, would have updated air monitoring protocols for fence-line zones to include facilities beyond petroleum refineries and would require these sites to maintain records of data collection for at least five years.

Refineries included under the bill’s provisions would have been those that produce gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, biofuel, lubricating oil, asphalt, petrochemical feedstock and other similar products, per the legislation."

Sharon Udasin reports for The Hill August 19, 2024.

Source: The Hill, 08/20/2024