Hazardous waste: classification and alternative management standards: notice of change.

Assembly Member Connolly's proposal to modify California's hazardous waste management procedures would require the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to implement comprehensive public notification processes when considering changes to waste classifications or management standards.

The measure establishes new requirements for DTSC's regulatory process, mandating that the department facilitate full public notification and review of facility entitlements at state, regional, and local levels when proposing to reclassify wastes or adopt alternative management standards. This expands upon existing law, which currently requires DTSC to hold at least one public hearing in Sacramento or affected areas before adopting or revising hazardous waste regulations.

Under the proposed framework, DTSC would maintain its authority to regulate hazardous waste management, while incorporating additional steps to enable community input on proposed regulatory changes. The bill specifies that these notification and review procedures must align with existing legal requirements, integrating new public participation mechanisms into the department's established regulatory processes.