I received a call back and spoke to a lovely man named Jeff.
Essentially, he confirmed that they're looking for geological features for the region. They're looking for magnetic data to detect various fault structures & other structures AND they're looking for exposed igneous rock to identify different minerals deposits for critical minerals in the ground. There are a couple of project looking for critical minerals....and mineral "hazards," like asbestos, etc.
OF course, there are CRITICAL minerals like cobalt, lithium, nickel that can be used for clean energy. :) WINK!
I asked where the funding comes from:
California is paying for this. The data will belong to them, but they have a duty to provide data to the general public. I asked when it will be available, and he's not sure.
They'll plug the data into 3D modeling.
This is a new project with exclusive funding from the last 1-2 years, funding from the Governors's budget: taxpayer funds and special fees. He did not have the cost of this particular contract. I will follow up with an email to get more information on the contract (they'll have to find it for me).
He also is aware that there is a lot of federal grant funding the state can use to fund some of these projects. I'll aim to get the specifics.
I'd love some extra eyes on SB 905!!
From the bill: Carbon sequestration: Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage Program.
Existing law establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. Existing law, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires the state board to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. Existing law requires, no later than July 1, 2023, the Natural Resources Agency, in coordination with the state board, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and other relevant state agencies, to establish the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy and, in developing the strategy, to create a framework to advance the state’s climate goals. Existing law requires the state board, as part of its scoping plan, to establish specified carbon dioxide removal targets for 2030 and beyond.
This bill would require the state board to establish a Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage Program, as provided, to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and viability of carbon capture, utilization, or storage (CCUS) technologies and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and facilitate the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide from those technologies, where appropriate. The bill would require the program to ensure that carbon dioxide capture, removal, and sequestration projects include specified components including, among others, certain monitoring activities. In carrying out the program’s objectives, the bill would require the state board to prioritize, among other priorities, reducing the emissions of greenhouses gases and reducing fossil fuel production in the state. The bill would require the state board to adopt regulations to implement the program and, in developing the program, to consult with the Geologic Carbon Sequestration Group described below.
This bill would require the state board, in consultation with relevant state and local agencies, by January 1, 2025, to adopt regulations for a unified permit application for the construction and operation of carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration projects to expedite the issuance of permits or other authorizations for the construction and operation of those projects. The bill would require relevant state agencies to use the unified permit application when issuing permits or other authorizations for a carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration project.
This bill would require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, in consultation with the state board, to publish a framework by July 1, 2025, for governing agreements regarding 2 or more tracts of land overlying the same geologic storage reservoir or reservoirs for purposes of managing, developing, and operating a carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration project, as provided.
This bill would provide that title to any geologic storage reservoir is vested in the owner of the overlying surface estate unless it has been severed and separately conveyed and would establish certain requirements with regard to the conveyance of the ownership interest of a geologic storage reservoir. No less than 60 days before commencing development of a carbon dioxide capture, removal, and sequestration project, the bill would require the carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration project operator to provide written notice of the project to each owner of a surface, subsurface, or storage reservoir estate that is adjacent to a geologic storage complex or a geologic storage reservoir that is included in the project. The bill would repeal the provisions described in this paragraph on a specified date.
I left a few voicemails for the CA Dept of Conservation and got a call back from a friendly man, Paul Fry, with the SMGB (state mining and geology board). He was unaware of the project, and referred me to the CGS division. I just left a message for Lisa Nelson and am hoping for a call back with some information. :) So far, I appreciate the call back and the willingness to put me in touch with the correct department to learn more. :)
Update from another concerned citizen! “Hi. I had to share this. This plane has been flying over us for the last couple of weeks. My (family member) was talking to my neighbor who has a pilots license and knows a lot of people, including the people at our local airport. He asked about it as it did not show up on his flight app. He asked his friend if the plane refuels there, and he said yes. He asked him to ask the pilot who he was and what he was doing. The pilot was Canadian (didn't get the company name) and said the Chinese were paying them to look for gold. He promptly said after that, he probably shouldn't be saying that. The little stinger on the plane is a deep penetrating radar apparently. I know it is all word of mouth but I thought I would share.”
Update:
I received a call back and spoke to a lovely man named Jeff.
Essentially, he confirmed that they're looking for geological features for the region. They're looking for magnetic data to detect various fault structures & other structures AND they're looking for exposed igneous rock to identify different minerals deposits for critical minerals in the ground. There are a couple of project looking for critical minerals....and mineral "hazards," like asbestos, etc.
OF course, there are CRITICAL minerals like cobalt, lithium, nickel that can be used for clean energy. :) WINK!
I asked where the funding comes from:
California is paying for this. The data will belong to them, but they have a duty to provide data to the general public. I asked when it will be available, and he's not sure.
They'll plug the data into 3D modeling.
This is a new project with exclusive funding from the last 1-2 years, funding from the Governors's budget: taxpayer funds and special fees. He did not have the cost of this particular contract. I will follow up with an email to get more information on the contract (they'll have to find it for me).
He mentioned that CA Senate Bill 905 was key to this particular project. He believes the funding came from this bill: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB905
Title: SB 905, Caballero. Carbon sequestration: Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage Program.
He also is aware that there is a lot of federal grant funding the state can use to fund some of these projects. I'll aim to get the specifics.
I'd love some extra eyes on SB 905!!
From the bill: Carbon sequestration: Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage Program.
Existing law establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. Existing law, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires the state board to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. Existing law requires, no later than July 1, 2023, the Natural Resources Agency, in coordination with the state board, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and other relevant state agencies, to establish the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy and, in developing the strategy, to create a framework to advance the state’s climate goals. Existing law requires the state board, as part of its scoping plan, to establish specified carbon dioxide removal targets for 2030 and beyond.
This bill would require the state board to establish a Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage Program, as provided, to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and viability of carbon capture, utilization, or storage (CCUS) technologies and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and facilitate the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide from those technologies, where appropriate. The bill would require the program to ensure that carbon dioxide capture, removal, and sequestration projects include specified components including, among others, certain monitoring activities. In carrying out the program’s objectives, the bill would require the state board to prioritize, among other priorities, reducing the emissions of greenhouses gases and reducing fossil fuel production in the state. The bill would require the state board to adopt regulations to implement the program and, in developing the program, to consult with the Geologic Carbon Sequestration Group described below.
This bill would require the state board, in consultation with relevant state and local agencies, by January 1, 2025, to adopt regulations for a unified permit application for the construction and operation of carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration projects to expedite the issuance of permits or other authorizations for the construction and operation of those projects. The bill would require relevant state agencies to use the unified permit application when issuing permits or other authorizations for a carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration project.
This bill would require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, in consultation with the state board, to publish a framework by July 1, 2025, for governing agreements regarding 2 or more tracts of land overlying the same geologic storage reservoir or reservoirs for purposes of managing, developing, and operating a carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration project, as provided.
This bill would provide that title to any geologic storage reservoir is vested in the owner of the overlying surface estate unless it has been severed and separately conveyed and would establish certain requirements with regard to the conveyance of the ownership interest of a geologic storage reservoir. No less than 60 days before commencing development of a carbon dioxide capture, removal, and sequestration project, the bill would require the carbon dioxide capture, removal, or sequestration project operator to provide written notice of the project to each owner of a surface, subsurface, or storage reservoir estate that is adjacent to a geologic storage complex or a geologic storage reservoir that is included in the project. The bill would repeal the provisions described in this paragraph on a specified date.
Update!
I left a few voicemails for the CA Dept of Conservation and got a call back from a friendly man, Paul Fry, with the SMGB (state mining and geology board). He was unaware of the project, and referred me to the CGS division. I just left a message for Lisa Nelson and am hoping for a call back with some information. :) So far, I appreciate the call back and the willingness to put me in touch with the correct department to learn more. :)
Update from another concerned citizen! “Hi. I had to share this. This plane has been flying over us for the last couple of weeks. My (family member) was talking to my neighbor who has a pilots license and knows a lot of people, including the people at our local airport. He asked about it as it did not show up on his flight app. He asked his friend if the plane refuels there, and he said yes. He asked him to ask the pilot who he was and what he was doing. The pilot was Canadian (didn't get the company name) and said the Chinese were paying them to look for gold. He promptly said after that, he probably shouldn't be saying that. The little stinger on the plane is a deep penetrating radar apparently. I know it is all word of mouth but I thought I would share.”