The California Air Resource board on Sept. 23 announced it will hold a public hearing in November to gather public input on proposed amendments to the state’s regulation on methane emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills.&nbsp;The hearing is scheduled to begin on Nov. 20, and may continue on Nov. 21 if necessary. The agency is also accepting written comments from Sept. 26 through Nov. 10.&nbsp;According to CARB, MSW landfills are the second-largest source of methane emissions in California, contributing more than 20% of statewide methane emissions. In addition, co-pollutants in landfill gas are emitted alongside methane that can have potential air quality and health implications.California first adopted its Landfill Methane Regulation in 2010 as a discrete early action measure under the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The LMR is designed to reduce methane emissions from MSW landfills, requiring owners and operators to install and optimally operate landfill gas collection and control systems (GCCS) to &nbsp;minimize emissions, monitor surface methane concentration and other performance parameters, repair emission exceedances and other performance issues, conduct source testing of combustion devices used to destroy methane, keep records of these actions and data, and report compliance information to CARB and local air districts.&nbsp;According to CARB, 190 landfills are currently subject to the LMR, with 153 of those landfills currently required to operate a GCCS. The agency said its proposed amendments to the LMR “are designed to improve methane control at MSW landfills by leveraging technologies, research, and lessons learned through over a decade of implementation experience.”The proposed amendments cover three primary focus areas, including methane emissions and repair actions; improving GCCS operations; and clarifying regulatory applicability, standardizing reporting and other miscellaneous changes.&nbsp;To improve GCCS operations, CARB is proposing to require earlier installation and operation of gas collection infrastructure in areas of new waste deposition. The agency is also proposing to limit periods of GCCS downtime and mitigate emissions from unavoidable downtime; expand wellhead monitoring parameters and analysis, and require response actions for out-of-range values or large changes in values; require more frequent monitoring, analysis, and mitigation measures including cover improvement in areas with persistent leaks or other issues; and better manage declining gas generation at closed landfills through clearer standards for requests and approvals to operate a GCCS semi-continuously or shut down a GCCS.&nbsp;CARB said it may also consider other changes to the LMR that are not specifically identified in the proposal.&nbsp;Additional information is available on the CARB <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/rulemaking/2025/landfill-methane-regulation-0">website</a>.

2025-09-29 - CARB seeks public input on proposed amendments to landfill methane regulations  (Biomass Magazine)

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The California Air Resource board on Sept. 23 announced it will hold a public hearing in November to gather public input on proposed amendments to the state’s regulation on methane emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. 

CARB seeks public input on proposed amendments to landfill methane regulations

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