Environmental Permits - Requirements for Public Participation and Impact and Burden Analyses (Cumulative Harms to Environmental Restoration for Improving Shared Health - CHERISH Our Communities Act)

SB 978 requires developers applying for certain environmental permits (like for landfills, hazardous waste facilities, or pollution discharges) to submit additional documentation if the project is located near communities already facing environmental challenges. Specifically, applicants must include an Environmental Justice (EJ) Score for the area and, for projects identified as having high potential for harm, provide an Environmental Impact Analysis and an Existing Burden Report detailing current community stressors. The Department of the Environment must review these materials and can deny permits if the project would worsen health or environmental impacts on vulnerable communities. This bill directly affects developers seeking permits for large-scale projects in designated census tracts, aiming to strengthen community input and health protections during the permitting process.