Waste discharge permits: landfills.

Senator Padilla's environmental justice initiative would require local agencies to certify that new landfills will not disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities before state regulators can issue waste discharge permits. The legislation establishes a new public hearing requirement and certification process specifically for Class III landfills that have not previously received permits or accepted waste prior to January 2026.

The bill defines environmental justice communities using California's CalEnviroScreen tool, specifically targeting areas scoring in the 90th percentile for pollution burden. Under the proposed framework, local enforcement agencies must conduct dedicated public hearings to evaluate potential impacts on these communities. The agencies must then provide formal certification to state authorities confirming that a proposed landfill would not create disproportionate harm before any waste discharge permits can be issued.

This measure builds upon existing state and federal water quality regulations, including the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and federal Clean Water Act permitting programs. It adds to current restrictions on landfill permits for former sand and gravel mining sites by introducing a distinct environmental justice review process at the local level. The certification requirement creates an additional procedural step between local evaluation and state permitting decisions.