Oil spill prevention: administrator for oil spill response: duties.

Senator Limón's oil spill prevention legislation establishes new safety requirements for dormant oil pipelines in California, mandating comprehensive hydrostatic testing before any pipeline inactive for five or more years can resume operations. The testing protocol requires operators to conduct segmented pressure tests at 100-110% of minimum yield strength for 30 minutes, followed by additional pressure testing aligned with federal regulations.

The bill modifies the state's financial responsibility certification process for facilities that could impact state waters. For pipelines subject to the new testing requirements, operators must now undergo a public notice and comment period before receiving their certificate. Starting January 15, 2026, the oil spill response administrator must conduct decennial reviews of worst-case spill calculations and financial assurance requirements through formal rulemaking procedures.

These changes operate within California's existing Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act framework, which requires various entities handling oil near state waters to maintain certificates of financial responsibility. The legislation maintains current requirements for marine terminals, tank vessels, and vessels carrying oil as secondary cargo while adding the new pipeline-specific provisions.