SACRAMENTO: The California Chamber of Commerce added SB 654 (de León) to its “job killer” list, bringing the total number of bills on the list to 18.
SB 654 (de León) would deem hazardous waste permit applications in violation of the law per se – absent any due process protections – solely because the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) failed to act on a permit application within a specified timeframe. The bill would impose an automatic legal violation on the permit applicant even if the permit applicant has acted diligently and in good faith throughout the entire permit application process.
According to CalChamber’s letter of opposition, the type of public policy SB 654 (de León) would create is “legally unsupportable and discourages investment in upgrading and improving in-state hazardous waste facilities, where environmental and other treatment, storage and disposal protocols are far more rigorous in comparison to those in other states.”
Further, CalChamber states, “SB 654 imposes arbitrary and unworkable timing requirements with respect to hazardous waste permit processing. The bill is substantially flawed both as a legal and policy matter.”
SB 654 (de León) is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee tomorrow.
The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is the largest broad-based business advocate to government in California. Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state. Leveraging our front-line knowledge of laws and regulations, we provide products and services to help businesses comply with both federal and state law. CalChamber, a not-for-profit organization with roots dating to 1890, promotes international trade and investment in order to stimulate California’s economy and create jobs.
