HB22-1244: Public Protections From Toxic Air Contaminants

• Establishes a comprehensive state program to identify, monitor, and regulate toxic air contaminants, including hazardous air pollutants and covered air toxics, with focus on protecting vulnerable populations and disproportionately impacted communities.

• Requires owners and operators of major sources to submit annual toxic emissions reports beginning June 30, 2024, with data made available to the public; Division must conduct a study on reporting gaps by October 1, 2024.

• Mandates Division to develop a monitoring program with at least 6 monitoring sites (3 by January 1, 2024; 3 more by July 1, 2025) covering urban and rural areas to track toxic air contaminant concentrations.

• Requires Commission to identify up to 5 priority toxic air contaminants by April 30, 2025, and propose health-based ambient air quality standards by April 30, 2026, considering peer-reviewed science and effects on vulnerable groups.

• Directs Commission to adopt emission control regulations for priority toxic air contaminants by April 30, 2026, with stricter standards for new sources; appropriates $3.1 million for fiscal year 2022-23 to implement the program.