(a)
The supervisor, after consulting with the State Water Resources Control Board and an appropriate regional water quality control board, may authorize the conversion of not more than 250 wells for use as gravity-based energy storage wells pursuant to this article to evaluate their use, including the establishment of appropriate operating conditions and physical parameters to
safely store and generate energy.
(b)
Before authorizing the use of a well as a gravity-based energy storage well, the supervisor, the State Water Resources Control Board, or an appropriate regional water quality control board may require the operator to provide additional information demonstrating the suitability of the well for use as a gravity-based energy storage well, including, but not limited to, providing an analysis of the chemical composition of the fluid in the wellbore, and may require testing for, among other indicators of suitability,
total dissolved solids, total petroleum hydrocarbon as crude oil, major cations, including, but not limited to, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, strontium, and boron, major anions, including, but not limited to, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, carbonate, bromide, and iodide, total alkalinity and hydroxide, electrical conductance, potential of hydrogen or pH, and temperature. Liquid analysis required pursuant to this section shall be performed by a laboratory that is certified by the State Water Resources Control Board’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. The performing laboratory shall submit the data and analysis directly to the supervisor or the appropriate regional water quality control board, as appropriate, using a digital format, and also to the State Water Resources Control Board, in an electronic format uploaded to their online GeoTracker information system following the applicable regulations adopted pursuant to Section 13197.5 of the Water Code.
(c)
The operator, before conversion of a well to a gravity-based energy storage well, shall file with the supervisor a written notice of intention to convert the well to a gravity-based energy storage well. The notice shall contain the pertinent data the supervisor requires in a format acceptable to the supervisor. The supervisor may require other pertinent information to supplement the notice. If conversion has not commenced within 24 months from the approval of the notice, the notice shall be deemed canceled. The notice shall not be extended and the cancellation shall be noted in the division’s records.
(d)
The conversion of a well for use as a gravity-based energy storage well does not relieve the operator of its obligation to plug and abandon the well, decommission attendant facilities, and remediate the site, consistent with the requirements of this division.
(e)
(1)
Before authorizing the conversion of a well for use as a gravity-based energy storage well, the supervisor shall obtain an enforceable
commitment from the operator that all contractors and subcontractors, at every tier, performing the conversion will pay at least prevailing wages and will use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all work that falls within an apprenticeable occupation in the building and construction trades.
(2)
Paragraph (1) shall not apply if all work to perform the conversion is subject to a project labor agreement that requires the payment of prevailing wages and the use of a skilled and trained workforce.
(3)
For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply:
(A)
“Prevailing wages” means at the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for the type of work and geographic area, as determined by the
Director of Industrial Relations pursuant to Sections 1773 and 1773.9 of the Labor Code, except that apprentices registered in programs approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards may be paid at least the applicable apprentice prevailing rate.
(B)
“Project labor agreement” means a prehire collective bargaining agreement that establishes terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project or projects and is an agreement described in Section 158(f) of Title 29 of the United States Code.
(C)
“Skilled and trained workforce” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 2601 of the Public Contract Code.
(f)
Submittal of a written notice of intention or supplemental notice pursuant to this section is separate from, and in addition to, any requirement to submit a written notice of intention or supplemental notice pursuant to Section 3203.
