Bill > SB58

This bill mandates a comprehensive review and potential update of California's ambient air quality standard for hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas with a strong odor. The existing standard, established in 1969, is considered outdated and may not adequately protect public health, particularly for sensitive populations and overburdened communities who are disproportionately affected by this pollutant, as seen in areas like the Tijuana River Valley and the Salton Sea region. The bill requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to develop new health-based threshold levels for hydrogen sulfide by January 1, 2030, considering various exposure durations, local climate impacts, and both indoor and outdoor exposure. This process will involve public workshops, including in affected regions, and consultation with various stakeholders. Subsequently, the State Air Resources Board (state board) will use these threshold levels to adopt an updated hydrogen sulfide ambient air quality standard within 12 months of publishing its review report, aiming to better protect public health by considering chronic low-level exposures and multiple averaging times. The bill also expresses legislative intent to develop a framework for responding to hydrogen sulfide exposures based on these new thresholds.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB58