Hazardous materials: metal shredding facilities.

Removed formal legislative document formatting including Senate Bill header, passage dates, Governor's receipt information, Private Secretary block, and page number footers.

Added web interface elements including navigation links (home, accessibility, FAQ, feedback, sitemap, login), quick search functionality, version history listing, and bill tracking tools (Track Bill, Add To My Favorites, Compare Versions).

Reformatted the legislative counsel's digest and bill text from a multi-column legislative document layout to a single-column web display format.

A new definition of 'small metal shredding facility' is added (Section 25095.1(s)), covering facilities that process no more than 250 tons per day or 65,000 tons per year using a stationary hammer mill, provided they do not shred whole vehicles, agricultural equipment, or white goods, do not conduct on-site chemical treatment of residue, and do not use an on-site thermal oxidizer.

The bill now requires DTSC to have primary responsibility for enforcement, conduct an annual compliance evaluation inspection of each metal shredding facility, and authorizes DTSC to refer violations to a district attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution. DTSC must also inform local health officers within 15 days of becoming aware of unlawful disposal.

Beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year, fee rates established by DTSC must be reviewed and increased or decreased annually. The dedicated account is renamed from 'Metal Shredders Facility Account' to 'Metal Shredding Facility Subaccount.'

A new Section 25095.8 is added that cross-references definitions from Chapter 6.5 (hazardous waste) and clarifies that references to Chapter 6.5 requirements or Division 4.5 regulations in this chapter apply specifically to metal processing operations authorized under the new chapter.

References to 'operative effective date' are changed to simply 'effective date,' removing the distinction between operative and effective dates throughout the chapter. The findings section adds language that regulation should be tailored 'to individual facilities based on their size and nature of operations.'

Existing law provisions on hazardous waste constituent monitoring, fence-line air quality monitoring, and community notification are now limited in scope to metal shredding facilities that are subject to the other provisions of this bill, with costs reimbursed from the new Metal Shredding Facility Subaccount rather than the Hazardous Waste Control Account.

Section 25095.6 is expanded to explicitly state that local air districts, unified program agencies, and environmental health departments may regulate any activity at a metal shredding facility that falls within the scope of their jurisdiction under existing law.

Header changed from amendment history and introduction byline to passage dates for both chambers (Senate passed Sept 13, 2025; Assembly passed Sept 12, 2025) and standard enrolled bill formatting including Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the Assembly, and a blank line for the Governor's receipt date and time.

The legislative counsel's digest removed the phrase 'as amended' from the bill title line and dropped the coauthor names (Senators Arreguin, Grayson, Perez; Assembly Members Alvarez, Gipson, and Mark Gonzalez), consistent with standard enrolled bill formatting.

New definition of 'feeder yard' added: a metal recycling facility that collects, sorts, or processes scrap metal through means other than a hammer mill, from which scrap metal is sold to customers or transferred to a metal shredding facility for further processing and recycling.

Removed the requirement for permit applicants to submit a 'current closure cost estimate' and a 'corrective action cost estimate, if any' as part of their application package.

Added a new permit application requirement: a metal shredding facility housekeeping plan that includes daily cleanup of light fibrous material susceptible to dispersal beyond the hammer mill.

The inventory management plan requirement was expanded to explicitly include procedures ensuring compliance with pile size and duration limitations in Section 25095.13(b)(2)(E).

Permit review language was cleaned up: removed the redundant phrase 'as expeditiously as possible' so the requirement now simply states DTSC shall take final action within three years of a complete application.

Bill summary now states DTSC must post general information about each metal shredding facility that has applied for or obtained a permit on its website, and must conduct at least one site visit to the applicant's facility after receipt of the permit application.

Fixed several drafting errors: removed duplicate text in Section 25095.3 ('however facilities. However'), corrected cross-reference from 'subdivision (g) (h)' to 'subdivision (h)' in Section 25095.10(a)(2), removed a duplicated section number in Section 25095.6, and changed 'operative date' to 'operative effective date' in Section 25095.4.

New legislative intent item (3) requires that the chapter not cause disproportionate and potentially discriminatory impacts on local communities, consistent with Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 11135 of the Government Code. The existing two intent items are now framed as 'all of the following' rather than 'both of the following.'

New permit condition (a)(4)(B) requires DTSC to determine on the basis of substantial evidence that a facility does not pose a significant threat to public health or the environment and will not cause disproportionate and potentially discriminatory impacts before taking final action to issue a permit.

Existing facilities may continue operating pending final permit action only if in compliance with a compliance plan approved under Section 25095.11(a) and any interim measures or controls issued under Section 25095.11(g), adding new conditions to the grace period.

New permit application item (M) requires submission of a compliance plan and schedule if required under Section 25095.11(a).

New exemption in Section 25095.2(e) excludes metal shredding facilities that process exclusively nonferrous metals containing no nonmetallic materials and whose operations do not produce metal shredder aggregate or result in generation of metal shredder residue.

Financial assurance requirement expanded from general 'evidence of financial assurance' to specifically require 'financial assurance for closure and third-party liability,' broadening the scope of required financial backing.

The fee subaccount is now specifically named 'Metal Shredders Facility Account' within the Hazardous Waste Control Account, and fees are restricted to being used 'solely for the purpose of implementation and administration' of the bill's provisions.

DTSC's authority to adopt regulations changed from mandatory ('require the DTSC to adopt regulations') to permissive ('authorize the DTSC to adopt regulations... as necessary to implement the requirements of the bill'), giving the department more discretion over whether and when to issue regulations.

DTSC changed from 'may impose' to 'shall impose' facility-specific conditions necessary to ensure compliance, making such conditions mandatory rather than discretionary.

Definition of 'metal shredding facility' expanded to explicitly exclude 'a feeder yard, yard or other scrap metal recycling facility that operates a metal crusher, a metal shear, or a metal baler if that facility does not conduct metal shredding operations,' broadening the exclusion beyond just feeder yards.

Public posting requirement simplified: the detailed trade secrecy exception language was replaced with a general reference to 'exceptions or exemptions under the California Public Records Act.'

DTSC must now take final action on a permit application by an existing metal shredding facility within 3 years of the application being submitted.

Existing facilities transitioning to the new permit system must, without exception, develop and continuously implement a fire prevention, detection, and response plan and comply with pile size and duration limitations during the transition period before a final permit is issued.

Permit applications must now include a plan for prevention, detection, and response to fires, and a facility security plan consistent with Section 66265.14 of Title 22 regulations.

The inventory management plan requirement was expanded to include procedures ensuring compliance with pile size and duration limitations set forth in Section 25095.13.

Owners or operators must provide written notice to DTSC at least 60 days before transferring ownership or operation of a metal shredding facility.

The public engagement requirement was narrowed from 'a public meeting or solicit comment from the community on the completed application materials' to simply 'a public meeting,' removing the alternative of soliciting written comment.

The definition of 'metal shredding facility' was narrowed from 'the entire site and all contiguous properties under the control of the owner or operator' to 'the entire site under the control of the owner or operator,' removing contiguous properties from the regulatory scope.

Fees collected from metal shredding facilities will now be placed in a new standalone 'Metal Shredders Facility Account' rather than a subaccount within the existing Hazardous Waste Control Account, giving the account independent status.

A person applying for a metal shredding facility permit must enter into a written agreement with DTSC to reimburse the department for direct costs reasonably incurred in processing the application.

Authority to regulate ancillary hazardous waste at metal shredding facilities was expanded from DTSC alone to include Unified Program Agencies (as defined in Section 25404), and local environmental health departments that are not Unified Program Agencies were added as retaining authority under the chapter.

Added new legislative finding (paragraph 7) stating that this chapter does not impair the rights of any person under any state or federal law, providing a broader savings clause for existing legal rights.

Added Senator Perez as a Senate coauthor and Assembly Members Alvarez and Mark Gonzalez as Assembly coauthors, indicating broader legislative support for the bill.

Removed the requirement that DTSC develop a community notification procedure by July 1, 2027, and related regulations by January 1, 2027, eliminating specific deadlines for those actions.

Narrowed the emergency reporting obligation: the old version required owners/operators to report 'any release or threatened release of a hazardous substance and certain emergency situations' to DTSC, while the new version only requires reporting 'certain emergency situations,' removing the explicit hazardous substance release reporting duty.

Clarified the public records exemption language in the website posting provision, changing from information 'exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act' to information 'exempt from disclosure consistent with exceptions or exemptions under the California Public Records Act.'

Minor clarification to the definition of 'Chemically Treated Metal Shredder Residue' (CTMSR), changing 'generated from the shredding and processing of shredded metallic materials' to 'generated from the processing of shredded metallic materials,' removing the redundant reference to shredding.

Section 25095.2 was changed from 'Reserved' to a list of specific exemptions: facilities shredding only e-waste, facilities shredding wood or wood products with ancillary metal components, facilities shredding only automotive tires, and feeder yards/metal crushers/metal shears/metal balers that do not conduct metal shredding operations are all excluded from the chapter.

New legislative findings were added stating the chapter should promote economic viability of all metal shredding facilities regardless of size, and be protective of all communities including those designated as disadvantaged or vulnerable under state law.

The digest now explicitly states the comprehensive regulatory scheme would be administered by DTSC 'pursuant to authority separate from laws governing the control of hazardous waste,' clarifying the bill creates a distinct regulatory track rather than operating within existing hazardous waste frameworks.

The definition of 'metal shredding facility' was expanded to include 'stationary or mobile shredder, such as a hammer mill or other shredding technique' (previously only 'such as a hammer mill'), and 'metal shear' was added to the list of excluded operations.

Section 25095.6 was expanded to also preserve the authority of certified unified program agencies (as defined in Section 25404), in addition to local air districts, ensuring RCRA hazardous waste program authorities are not limited by this chapter.

The definition of CTMSR (chemically treated metal shredder residue) was changed from 'shredding and processing of metallic materials' to 'shredding and processing of shredded metallic materials,' adding precision about the state of the material.

A new requirement was added that before DTSC makes a decision to approve or deny a permit application, it must hold a public meeting or solicit comment from the community on the completed application materials, with a minimum 45-day public comment period.

DTSC is now required to post information provided by owners and operators regarding a metal shredding facility on its internet website in a manner readily accessible to the public, except for information claimed as trade secret or business confidential.