(1) Identification of potential threats and hazards associated with operation of the underground gas storage project, including identification of the most important potential accident scenarios associated with operation of the underground gas storage project;

(2) Quantitative risk assessment of the probability of threats and hazards and their consequences, using an appropriate methodology identified by the operator that includes:

(3) Identification of possible prevention and mitigation protocols to reduce, manage, or monitor risks, including evaluation of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the prevention protocols;

(4) Risk assessment on a well-by-well basis, to the extent that risks identified are specific to wells;

(5) Prioritization of risk prevention and mitigation efforts based on potential severity and estimated likelihood of occurrence of each threat;

(6) Selection and implementation of prevention and mitigation protocols;

(7) Documentation of the risk assessment process, including description of the basis for selection of prevention and mitigation protocols;

(8) Data feedback and validation throughout the risk assessment process; and

(9) Regular, periodic risk assessment reviews to update information and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and mitigation protocols employed, which shall occur not less than once every three years and in response to changed conditions or new information.

(1) Well construction and design standards, consistent with the requirements of Section 1726.5 and including specification of the life expectancy of individual mechanical well barrier elements. If the operator has wells that do not conform with the requirements of Section 1726.5, then the Risk Management Plan shall include a work plan and schedule for either bringing the nonconforming wells into compliance or plugging and abandoning the wells in accordance with Public Resources Code section 3208. The work plan and schedule shall provide for full compliance with Section 1726.5 within seven years, with at least 10 percent of the nonconforming wells addressed in the first year and the total percentage of the nonconforming wells addressed increasing by 15 percent in each subsequent year. The work plan shall include prevention and mitigation protocols for monitoring and testing each well that is not yet in compliance with the requirements of Section 1726.5 so as to mitigate risks associated with the well to the extent feasible.

(2) For each gas storage well, evaluation of whether employment of surface and/or subsurface automatic or remote-actuated safety valves is appropriate based on consideration of at least the following:

(3) A schedule for verification and demonstration of the mechanical integrity of each well used in the underground gas storage project and each well that intersects the reservoir used for gas storage. The mechanical integrity testing protocols for gas storage wells shall, at a minimum, adhere to the requirements of Section 1726.6.

(4) Corrosion monitoring, evaluation, and mitigation including consideration of at least the following:

(5) Ongoing monitoring of casing pressure changes at the wellheads of gas storage wells, analysis of facility flow erosion, individual facility component capacity and fluid disposal capability at intended gas and liquid flow rates and pressures, and analysis of the specific impacts that the intended operating pressure and temperature ranges could have on the corrosive potential of fluids in the system.

(6) Monitoring protocols in accordance with the requirements of Section 1726.7.

(7) Ongoing verification and demonstration of the integrity of the reservoir including demonstration that reservoir integrity will not be adversely impacted by operating conditions.

(8) Analysis and risk assessment of hazards associated with the formation of hydrates, and scale from the well stream under various pressure, temperature, and flow rates, including those beyond expected operating parameters.

(9) Analysis and risk assessment of natural and geologic hazards including, but not limited to, seismicity, faults, subsidence, inundation by tsunamis, sea level rise, and floods.

(10) Analysis and risk assessment of hazards associated with the potential for explosion or fire.

(11) If observation wells are employed, identification and documentation of baseline conditions such as wellbore pressure, pressure of monitored annuli, gas composition and liquid level.

(12) An assessment of human factors in operating and maintenance procedures. The human factors assessment shall consider staffing levels; the complexity of tasks; the length of time needed to complete tasks; the level of training, experience and expertise of employees; the human-machine and human-system interface; the physical challenges of the work environment in which the task is performed; employee fatigue and other effects of shiftwork and overtime; communication systems; and the understandability and clarity of operating and maintenance procedures. The human factors assessment shall also consider utilization of error-proof mechanisms, automatic alerts, and automatic system shutdowns.

(13) An effective training program with clearly stated goals. The training program shall specify the type and frequency of training and the risk assessments and prevention and mitigation protocols addressed.

(14) An equipment maintenance program that includes training and proactive inspection, repair, and replacement of equipment at risk of failure so as to ensure safe operation.

(15) An emergency response plan that at a minimum accounts for the threats and hazards identified in the Risk Management Plan and that complies with the requirements of Section 1726.3.1.

(16) Requests for notice from land use agencies of local land use decisions that could affect the Risk Management Plan, and providing notification to the Division of significant pending land use decisions.