CAL.Regulation
California requires landfill heat monitoring with $100,000 daily penalties
AB 28 (Chapter 356), signed September 20, requires landfill owners and operators to notify CalRecycle, water boards, air agencies, and local enforcement bodies upon a subsurface elevated temperature event, defined as subsurface temperatures persistently over 131 degrees Fahrenheit, and to implement mitigation including a corrective action plan. CalRecycle may assume enforcement, recover its costs, and impose administrative civil penalties up to $100,000 per day. The law creates a continuously appropriated community mitigation fund.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Governor of California
Key points
- The trigger is a subsurface elevated temperature event: subsurface temperatures persistently over 131 degrees Fahrenheit.California Legislative Information
- Notice goes to CalRecycle, state and regional water boards, CARB, and local enforcement, health, and air agencies.California Legislative Information
- Operators must provide temperature data on request and implement department-deemed mitigation, including a corrective action plan.California Legislative Information
- CalRecycle may take over as enforcement agency, recover its costs, and impose penalties up to $100,000 per day.California Legislative Information
- The continuously appropriated Landfill Subsurface Fire Mitigation Community Fund compensates affected persons and communities.California Legislative Information
- CalRecycle may adopt emergency regulations to implement the requirements; the law takes effect January 1, 2027.California Legislative Information
Sources2 articles across 2 outlets
California Legislative Information
Governor of California
Filed under
RegulationCal.AB 28 — Solid waste landfills: subsurface temperaturesEnvironmentalFor practitionersFor governance