Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards regulate water quality and prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the federal national pollutant discharge elimination system permit program established by the federal Clean Water Act.
The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 prohibits a regional board from issuing a waste discharge permit for a new landfill, or a lateral expansion of an existing landfill, that is used for the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste if the land has been primarily used at any time for the mining or excavation of gravel or sand, except as specified.
This bill would prohibit a state agency from issuing a waste discharge permit for a new Class III landfill, as defined, until after a local enforcement agency has held a separate publicly noticed hearing and has certified to the department that the landfill will not disproportionately impact or harm an environmental justice community, as defined.

Statutes affected:
SB 594: 40060 PRC
02/20/25 - Introduced: 40060 PRC
03/24/25 - Amended Senate: 40060 PRC