This bill amends Arizona Revised Statutes to establish a framework for identifying and addressing the needs of "burdened communities," defined as those in the bottom thirty-three percent for median annual household income. The Department of Environmental Quality is required to adopt and periodically update a list of these communities. Before granting permits for new facilities or expansions in these areas, applicants must conduct an environmental impact assessment, hold a public hearing, and demonstrate community support. The department can deny permits if the cumulative impacts pose an unreasonable risk to public health or the environment.

Key changes from current law include the introduction of specific requirements for permit applicants in burdened communities, such as preparing detailed reports on environmental and health impacts, conducting public hearings, and considering community feedback. The bill also allows the department to deny permits based on cumulative impacts and mandates a waiting period after public hearings before decisions are made. Additionally, the bill provides definitions for terms like "burdened community," "cumulative impacts," and "facility," which were not previously defined in the law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-119