Regulate Air Toxics

Current law defines as a "covered facility" a stationary source of air pollutants that reported in its federal toxics release inventory filing at least one of the following amounts of the following "covered air toxics" in one year:

• For hydrogen cyanide, 10,000 pounds;
• For hydrogen sulfide, 5,000 pounds; and
• For benzene, 5,000 pounds.

The bill expands upon the requirements applicable to covered facilities by:

• Directing the air quality control commission to consider, at least every 5 years, adding new types of covered air toxics and adjusting the applicable emission thresholds;
• Requiring that a covered facility's outreach to communities near the covered facility, in particular disproportionately impacted communities, be conducted in the 2 most prevalent languages spoken in the communities;
• Requiring covered facilities to conduct fenceline monitoring of covered air toxics and to publicly report the results of the monitoring; and
• Requiring covered facilities to take corrective action within 15 days after a violation occurs.

The bill also requires the division of administration in the department of public health and environment to conduct community-based monitoring of covered air toxics in areas near covered facilities and to publicly report the results.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)