Air quality: standard: hydrogen sulfide.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify exact new standards or threshold levels, leaving these details to be determined in future actions by state and local agencies.

Air Quality Rules for Hydrogen Sulfide

The bill requires the State Air Resources Board to review and update air quality standards for hydrogen sulfide, conduct public workshops in affected regions, consult with various agencies, publish a report online after completing the review, and develop health-based threshold levels by January 1, 2030.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the State Air Resources Board to review current ambient air quality standards for hydrogen sulfide and adopt updated standards if needed to protect public health, including sensitive and overburdened communities.
• Requires at least three public workshops during the review process in specific regions affected by hydrogen sulfide pollution: one in the Tijuana River Valley region and one in the Salton Sea region.
• Requires consultation with local air districts, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the State Department of Public Health, affected tribal governments, and community-based organizations.
• Requires publishing a publicly available report on its internet website after completing the review process.
• Requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to develop health-based threshold levels for hydrogen sulfide by January 1, 2030.

Who It Names or Affects

• The State Air Resources Board
• Local air districts and environmental agencies
• Public health departments
• Tribal governments and community organizations

Terms To Know

Ambient air quality standard

A limit set by the government to protect public health from harmful levels of pollutants in outdoor air.

Threshold level

The point at which a pollutant is known to cause harm, used as a basis for setting safety standards.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify the exact new standards or threshold levels.
• Requires local agencies to adopt new guidelines but does not provide funding for implementation.
• The bill's effectiveness depends on future actions by state and local agencies.

Official Summary Text

SB 58, as amended, Padilla.
Air quality: standard: hydrogen sulfide.
Existing law generally designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution, and designates air pollution control districts and air quality management districts with the primary responsibility for the control of air pollution from all sources other than vehicular sources. Existing law requires the state board to inventory sources of air pollution within the air basins of the state, determine the kinds and quantity of air pollutants, and monitor air pollutants in cooperation with districts and other agencies.
This bill would require the state board to conduct a comprehensive review, as provided, of the current ambient air quality standard for hydrogen sulfide and adopt an updated standard, as necessary, to protect public health, including the health of sensitive
and overburdened communities. The bill would require the state board to conduct at least 3 public workshops during the review, including at least one in the Tijuana River Valley region and one in the Salton Sea region. The bill would require the state board to consult with local air districts, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the State Department of Public Health, affected tribal governments, and community-based organizations. The bill would require the state board to publish, after completing the review, a publicly available report on its internet website and, no later than 12 months after publishing the report, to adopt an updated hydrogen sulfide ambient air quality standard, as necessary, to protect sensitive populations and overburdened communities.
Existing law requires the state board to adopt standards of ambient air quality for each air
basin in consideration of the public health, safety, and welfare, including, but not limited to, health, illness, irritation to the senses, aesthetic value, interference with visibility, and effects on the economy. Existing law authorizes these standards to vary from one air basin to another. Existing law requires the standards relating to health effects to be based upon the recommendations of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2030, the office to develop health-based threshold levels for hydrogen sulfide. The bill would further authorize the office to develop threshold levels for additional air pollutants with the considerations specified for hydrogen sulfide upon an appropriation for this purpose from the Legislature. The bill would require the office to conduct at least 3 public workshops,
including at least one located in the Tijuana River Valley region, at least one located in the Salton Sea region, and at least one selected in consultation with a community that has experienced significant hydrogen sulfide exposure.
The bill would require the air pollution control districts and air quality management districts to adopt, and would authorize local environmental and public health agencies to consider, any threshold level later developed by the office pursuant to the bill. By imposing new duties on air pollution control districts and air quality management districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would also authorize the state board to adopt additional or updated standards based on the threshold levels developed pursuant to the bill. The bill would additionally express
the intent of the Legislature to develop guidelines that would require the state board, in consultation with specified entities, to develop a response framework to establish best practices and guidance based on the office’s development of thresholds established pursuant to the bill.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF