Bill > AB28

This bill establishes new regulations for monitoring and managing elevated temperatures in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, focusing on preventing potential subsurface fire risks. The legislation requires landfill operators to monitor gas temperatures at wellheads and take specific actions if temperatures reach certain thresholds: at 131°F, operators must notify local agencies, conduct root cause analysis, and develop a corrective action plan; at 146°F, additional steps include submitting plans to a multiagency coordination group and providing monthly updates to nearby residents; and at 170°F, more stringent measures are triggered, potentially including permit suspension and emergency proclamations. The bill empowers CalRecycle and local enforcement agencies to impose significant financial penalties (up to $10,000 per day or $1 million per week) for non-compliance, with collected funds deposited into a new Landfill Subsurface Fire Mitigation Account to help affected communities. The State Air Resources Board must establish mandatory landfill gas temperature monitoring requirements, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment will assess potential community health impacts. The legislation aims to proactively address potential landfill fire risks by creating a comprehensive, tiered response system that prioritizes early detection, communication, and collaborative problem-solving.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB28