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

Senator Limón's oil spill prevention legislation establishes new safety protocols for restarting dormant oil pipelines and enhances financial responsibility requirements for facilities that could impact California's waters. The measure prohibits restarting oil pipelines that have been inactive for five or more years without first completing a rigorous hydrostatic testing program, including a 30-minute spike test at 100-110% of the pipeline's minimum yield strength followed by additional pressure testing per federal regulations.

The bill modifies the state's financial responsibility certification process for oil-handling facilities by requiring public notice and comment before certificates can be issued. Beginning January 15, 2026, the oil spill response administrator must conduct periodic reviews every ten years of the formulas used to calculate worst-case spill scenarios and corresponding financial assurance requirements. These reviews will incorporate updated data through a formal rulemaking process with public input.

The legislation maintains existing requirements that vessels transporting oil, marine terminals conducting transfers, and facilities where spills could affect state waters must obtain certificates of financial responsibility. Operators of marine terminals must verify valid certificates before conducting any vessel-to-vessel oil transfers. The measure classifies violations of these provisions as misdemeanors subject to fines or imprisonment under current law.